Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Arshad Warsi Says Monk and Child Kept Him in Comedy
Arshad Warsi did not originally plan to become an actor.
He got his first movie role even though he had never acted before.
He learned by watching the experienced actor Pran work.
Over time, Arshad became famous for making people laugh.
At one point, he thought comedy was not serious enough and wanted to stop doing it.
While visiting Ladakh, a monk told him that making people laugh was a special gift.
Later, a girl who could not hear said she understood his acting by watching his expressions.
These moments convinced Arshad to continue performing comedy.
Arshad Warsi said he entered acting unexpectedly and initially believed he was not suited to become an actor.
He landed his first film, Tere Mere Sapne, without a screen test despite having no acting experience.
Warsi said he learned by observing veteran actor Pran’s preparation and discipline on set.
After becoming tired of comedy, Warsi considered quitting the genre to pursue more serious roles.
A monk and a hearing-impaired girl helped him realize that his comedy made many people happy.
- Who
- Actor Arshad Warsi, a monk he met in Ladakh, and a young girl at a children’s programme.
- What
- Warsi described entering acting unexpectedly, learning from Pran, and deciding not to quit comedy.
- When
- The interview recounts events from Warsi’s career spanning roughly three decades; exact dates were not provided.
- Where
- The experiences took place on the set of Tere Mere Sapne, in Ladakh, and at a programme for children.
- Why
- The monk and the girl helped Warsi recognize that his ability to make people laugh brought happiness to others.
- First film
- Tere Mere Sapne
- First-film producer
- Amitabh Bachchan Corporation
- Acting mentor observed
- Pran
- Best-known character
- Circuit in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Lage Raho Munna Bhai
- Career concern
- Warsi temporarily wanted to move away from comedy and pursue serious roles.
- Turning-point location
- Ladakh
- Key realization
- His comedy could make people happy, including a hearing-impaired girl who followed his work through his expressions.