Aasif Sheikh has graced the screen in over eighty films across a prolific forty-year career, with each character leaving an impression. His portrayal of Vibhuti Narayan Mishra in &TV’s Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai has garnered immense appreciation from audiences, especially for his signature line, ‘I am sorry’. Another memorable line from his career, “What a joke,” delivered as Suraj Singh in the Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan starrer Karan Arjun, resonates with fans till date. Recounting his experience as Suraj Singh in the movie, Aasif shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes detail. He said, “When Karan Arjun’s director, Rakesh Roshan, first introduced me to the role, he stressed that ‘What a joke’ wasn’t just a line but the core of Suraj’s character. He wanted it to be Suraj’s reaction to everything, bringing an unexpected, engaging twist to the character. From day one, I infused ‘What a joke’ into every scene, experimenting with different tones to bring out the humour and unpredictability that the film’s director envisioned.”
Aasif also revealed a surprising fact that he wasn’t the first choice for the role, “Initially, Gulshan Grover was cast as Suraj Singh. He had even filmed several scenes and delivered the iconic line multiple times. But, for reasons I’m still not entirely sure of, I ended up bagging the role. It was a twist of fate, and maybe a testament to my perseverance, which allowed me to make ‘What a joke’ a memorable part of Bollywood history, something I’m incredibly proud of.”
