While every comedian is trying to get a laugh, this duo is trying to drive sense into those laughs. Just three years after this Canadian-Punjabi Indian duo started creating videos of their comic acts and uploading on YouTube, JusReign and Rupan Bal have grabbed eyeballs of those who matter in this industry. While Rupan has already made his acting debut with Harbhajan Mann's Punjabi film Hanni, this time around his friend JusReign is also off to a start. And it all started with the social media. Back in Canada, JusReign produced online comic videos while Rupan became his actor, taking on different garbs to make their satirical comedy appeal to the largest population, the online viewer.
JusReign became a popular YouTuber, while coaxing his friend Rupan to test his skills in the Punjabi industry back home in India. As luck would have it, now the two have been cast together in an underproduction Punjabi film, 22G Tussi Ghaint Ho! . In Chandigarh recently, we caught up with the duo and bring you some nuggets from the conversation.
JUS TALKING JusReign, christened Jasmeet Singh at birth, explains how he accepted this film. "The role was little bit of me, where I play a Canadian. It allowed me to explain myself, my North American style of humour," he says, "I always tried to promote my roots, keeping my beard and turban on...and used comedy to break the discrimination abroad. I also came here because this is where I come from, I wanted to recreate something new, innovative and different for the people here, with my kind of humour." Since he is particular about not bending his personal rules just to 'fit in', Jus is open to directing his own projects. "If I don't find anything here that suits my comic timing," he adds, "I am very picky. I do comedy for the art form than doing it for the money... I like to add value. Like good music is cherished till long after, I want to create humour that will be remembered till much later." Referring to his style as "more situational, sarcastic, having depth," Jus sees hope on the Indian media horizon. "Though I think the change from slapstick to profound humour hasn't happened in India yet, I see it starting with YouTube." Though Jus doesn't subscribe to most of surging Indian TV comedy, he adds, "I like Kapil Sharma, his humour is very snappy. I would like to be on his show someday, even if I may not get all the jokes all the time because of the culture barrier."
Currently working on a comedy album slated for a commercial release, Jus is also toying with the idea of making his own Bollywood film to sample his style of humour here. And to quell any scepticism about takers for his comic timing, Jus says, "Shah Rukh Khan's kids watch YouTube and they watch us..."
BAL IN HIS COURT Rupan Bal has a dangerous plan B, but that doesn't mean he has little faith in his plan A panning out as visualised. "I pursued a degree in Criminology to please my parents. But my plan A was to become myself, to become Rupan Bal," he says. Pleased with the offer of a role for him here subsequent to Hanni, Rupan plays a desi pendu in 22G....
With Jus being instrumental in pushing Rupan to India, he is glad. "Jus spotted the talent in me and kind of pulled me here," says Rupan, going on to narrate his introduction to Pollywood, "Hanni was a total surprise because I never planned on becoming an actor. In fact, when I got a call from the Mann's I thought it's a prank call and called back to even ascertain the number! But eventually through a mutual fb friend of Harbhajan Mann, I got confirmation of the offer." While he is here to catch the boom in the Punjabi industry, the actor has many favourites. "Well, my favourite is JusReign first! Then, I think Akshay Kumar does great comedy even if its cliched. In Punjab, we've grown up on comedy by Gurpreet Ghuggi and Bhagwant Mann." Though he forayed into Punjabi, Rupan doesn't think Bollywood is far from reach. "There is a huge world of opportunities in Bollywood now. And we are hopeful."
Meanwhile, Rupan also has an Indo-Canadian project at hand. "I am working on an English film, it is by the international film fest people in Canada and is story of two generations."
DIRECTOR'S TAKE Making his debut in Punjabi feature films, the director of 22G Tussi Ghaint Ho!, which also stars Bhagwant Mann, Vishal Prashar is a new age kid on the directorial block. Enamoured by technology and its application in entertainment, Vishal has created his niche in the 3D and VFX industry already. Having graduated from a Vancouver film school, Vishal got a taste of JusReign and Rupan comedy in Canada. "I had been following JusReign since two years now. So, when I thought of making a comedy, I had to cast them," he says. Defending his take on making yet another comedy amidst the clutter of gags, Vishal says, "This film offers new kind of humour in Punjabi industry. It is intelligent humour. The story is by Bhagwant Mann and he is known for intelligent comedy. Unlike stereotypical comedy, ours isn't a drag and it doesn't overlap things. So, it's like a chaat- a mixture." The film also casts Upasna Singh. "She is doing pretty well right now, courtesy Kapil's show. While Bhagwant saab is very big abroad, and the social media too has got him covered."
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