Sanjay Mishra: Man Without A Mirror

It has been over 25 years since Sanjay Mishra arrived in Mumbai to act. Now, with two toddlers at home and a handful of soulful films to his name, he’s set for a new innings.

- Malay Desai

Sanjay Mishra leads two lives. In the one we know of, he prances about gingerly in the living room of his first-floor apartment in Versova, in Mumbai, a Filmfare Awards’ gag script in hand. The room is ornately designed, filled with handpicked vintage chairs, old desks and a shelf bearing vinyl records. Cupping a mug of chai, Mishra is in a drab sweater, spurting dialogues as his assistants await instructions. Three floors above this sitting room is his home, his other life. This sea-facing apartment lacks all the warm artistry of the one below, and is strewn with his son Lamha’s and daughter Pal’s toys. The only giveaways of Mishra’s profession are stacks of DVDs tucked in lofts and a poster featuring Apple Singh, the character he became famous for in 1999. He spends most of his time here; he goes downstairs only for script readings and meetings.

Setting aside his script, Mishra shakes his head, “Kal raat se jo meri haalat hui hai [I’ve been miserable since last night].”He is slated to share the stage with Shah Rukh Khan, with whom he worked recently in Dilwale, but that isn’t only why he’s a bundle of nerves. “Poori industry hogi, yaar. Amitabhjee baithe honge, haala ki maine unke saath kaam kiya hai. Par yeh jo third-bell ki nervousness hai na [The whole film industry will be there, with Amitabh Bachchan in the front. Although I’ve worked with him, I have the third-bell nervousness].”