Shekhar Suman recalls midnight call from Bal Thackeray, 'most memorable' interview
Synopsis
In a rare candid moment, veteran actor Shekhar Suman revealed how Bal Thackeray — the reclusive Shiv Sena chief — called him at 3 am to praise his late-night show, then agreed to an on-air interview so engaging that Thackeray himself wanted to continue. It's a window into how broadcasting once worked at the intersection of power and celebrity in Mumbai.
Key Takeaways
Shekhar Suman recalled an exclusive interview with Bal Thackeray , the late Shiv Sena patriarch, on his show 'Movers & Shakers' .
Thackeray initiated contact by calling Suman at 3 am to praise the show, then agreed to appear.
The interview was so engaging that Thackeray expressed desire to film another segment on the spot.
Suman flagged the decline of Hindi language command among contemporary actors, contrasting them with Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan .
He emphasised that acting, speech, and behaviour are inseparable elements of performance craft.
Actor and talk show host Shekhar Suman has recalled one of the most significant moments of his broadcasting career: an exclusive interview with Bal Thackeray, the late Shiv Sena patriarch who rarely appeared on television. Speaking to IANS, Suman revealed that Thackeray initiated contact by calling him at 3 am to praise his late-night show 'Movers & Shakers', which aired across the 1990s and early 2000s.
How the interview came about
Suman recounted the conversation: "Balasaheb Thackeray called me one night at three o'clock and said he watched one of my programs. He told me, 'Saw this episode that you do very well.' I replied, 'If I do very well, then why don't you come to my show?' He asked, 'When should I come?'" The two met shortly after, marking Thackeray's rare television appearance.
The memorable interaction
According to Suman, the interview was so engaging that Thackeray expressed an immediate desire to continue. "After doing the interview, he said, 'It was a lot of fun, do one more', so I said, 'Sir, we don't have another costume'. He replied, 'Let's do it in this'," Suman recalled. This spontaneous chemistry, he emphasised, remains one of the defining moments of his career in broadcasting.
Suman's wider concerns on Hindi cinema
Beyond the Thackeray anecdote, Suman used the interview to flag a broader concern: the declining command of the Hindi language among contemporary actors. He pointed out that mispronunciation of common words has become endemic in the film industry. "Today's actors often mispronounce common words," he told IANS. "What do you expect from such people in an industry where Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan are known for their command over the language?"
The craft of speech and acting
Suman, known for his role in the cult sitcom 'Dekh Bhai Dekh', emphasised that acting, speech, and behaviour are inseparable. "Along with acting, I also wanted to focus on speech as both these things are closely connected to one another," he said. He drew parallels to international cinema, citing Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and John Hopkins as examples of actors whose linguistic precision elevated their craft. "All over the world, actors are known due to their language. Acting, speech, behaviour — all these things move together simultaneously," Suman concluded, underscoring a gap he perceives in contemporary Hindi cinema's approach to performance.
Point of View
Then agree to appear, speaks to a different media ecology. His observation on Hindi language decline in cinema is sharper: contemporary Bollywood has outsourced diction to accent coaches and post-production dubbing, severing the link between an actor's voice and their craft. When Amitabh Bachchan's baritone *was* the performance, not an add-on, the stakes were different.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Shekhar Suman's most memorable interview?
Shekhar Suman's most memorable interview was with Bal Thackeray, the late Shiv Sena patriarch, who rarely appeared on television. Thackeray called Suman at 3 am to praise his show 'Movers & Shakers', and the two subsequently met for an on-air interview.
How did Bal Thackeray initiate contact with Shekhar Suman?
Bal Thackeray called Shekhar Suman at 3 am one night and told him he had watched one of his 'Movers & Shakers' episodes, saying 'Saw this episode that you do very well.' Suman seized the opportunity and invited him to appear on the show.
What happened after the interview with Bal Thackeray?
After the interview, Bal Thackeray expressed a desire to do another segment, saying 'It was a lot of fun, do one more.' Suman jokingly replied they didn't have another costume, to which Thackeray said, 'Let's do it in this.'
What did Shekhar Suman say about Hindi language in cinema?
Shekhar Suman expressed concern about the declining command of Hindi among contemporary actors, noting that many mispronounce common words. He contrasted this with legends like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, and argued that acting, speech, and behaviour must move together as inseparable elements of performance.
Which show did Shekhar Suman host?
Shekhar Suman hosted the late-night talk show 'Movers & Shakers', which aired across the 1990s and early 2000s and featured prominent names from across industries.
