Smita Shrivastava, Mumbai. The fourth season of the web show Gullak will be released on Sony Liv from June 7 with the sweetness of family entertainment. In the year 2019, in the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty of Corona, the story of the middle-class Mishra family, Gullak, gave a hope that if loved ones are with you, then solutions to all problems can be found while laughing.

After three successful seasons of Gullak which touched upon issues like employment, health concerns, pressure of competition, limited income and increasing needs, the same spirit of the Mishra family will be seen in the fourth season as well.

Jameel Khan, who plays the role of Santosh Mishra, the head of the Mishra family, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, who plays his elder son Annu, and Sunita Rajwar, who plays the role of neighbor Bittu's mother, shared things related to the show...

How did the association with Gullak happen?

Vaibhav: My younger brother Amrit Raj Gupta directed the first season. He wanted to cast some other actor. I was busy with theatre, but I gave the audition just like that. Even then I was not sure about playing the character. I had in mind that I would do a drama, a serious crime based show, but perhaps it was written in my destiny that I would be a part of this show.

Jameel Khan:  TVF (the production company) had seen one of my plays. There was a story in it called Sankramana. In that, Naseer bhai (Naseeruddin Shah) played my father and Seema Pahwa my mother. From there itself, they had decided that I would play the role of my father in the show. At first I refused, then when Nikhil Vijay (the writer of the show) told me the story, I liked it.

Sunita Rajwar: It started with the auditions. After that, we all met during the workshop. I know Geetanjali, who is playing Santosh's wife Shanti. She is from the National School of Drama (NSD). I already know Jameel. I had seen his plays. I met Vaibhav and Harsh, who is playing the role of the younger brother, at the workshop. That's where the beautiful journey began.

How much did people's perspective change after the success of the show?

Jameel : Gullak was a boon for me. I got recognition and love. I also suffered a little loss. Santosh Mishra's character was liked so much that now I have started getting many offers for the role of a father. When you have done work of a certain level, then you don't enjoy anything less.

Sunita : Yes, I did a lot of work but I got more love after doing this role.

Vaibhav : I had done some work before Gullak, but after seeing my performance in Gullak, the confidence of the producers has increased. They want to cast me. Let's talk about the character.

Had you even decided to quit acting?

Sunita : I had already taken a break from acting for two years, but fate sent me on a new journey. I got the opportunity to be a part of Gullak. Many people have said that seeing Gullak in difficult times brings a smile on their faces. If someone is in trouble, then Gullak is his salve. As far as quitting acting is concerned, I was not getting good roles.

When you don't get good roles, you don't get money either. Then it becomes difficult to earn a living. I am from NSD. I have also learnt makeup and costume. It is said that a role is neither big nor small, but it is. When all this was happening continuously, my mind started to get distracted from it.

Your looks are also important for many roles. I felt I was not made for this. Then I quit acting and became the manager of Masaba (actress Neena Gupta's daughter).

Vaibhav: We used to wait for Sunita ji's dates to get us to shoot Gullak. The mischiefs of the characters in the show bring smiles. Did you ever get scolded for your childhood mischiefs?

Jameel: As a child, I once went to watch a movie with my cousin without permission. When I returned, it was evening. Dad made me take off my pants as punishment. He made me stand outside the gate wearing just a shirt and shorts. There was no light outside. I remember that punishment till date. I barely stood there for five minutes, but it felt like five hundred years had passed. I did not talk to my father for three-four days. Then he called me and said that now you will not go anywhere without asking. I will always remember this punishment.

Vaibhav: I was very scared of Papa. In summers, we used to get beaten up for wasting water or doing other mischiefs. After that, we used to sleep peacefully, but when we used to wake up, we used to see that samosas and cold drinks had been ordered. Papa was sitting after taking a bath. This was his way of expressing his love.

Sunita : I was punished for mischief, but I also got a lot of love. The emotional security that I get from my family gives me the courage to face future challenges. Season 4 of Gullak will be released on June 7.