Comedy Star Kaya Yanar, born 1973 in Germany with turkish roots is known for portraying people of various nationalities as for example Italy, Russia, Turkey, Arabia, India, China and of course Germany in a very witty way. He likes to demonstrate in his TV comedy show "Was guckst du" (guideline was the English V show "Goodness gracious me)" and his stage performance all the chliches which has been developed by the time between foreigners and Germans.

Kaya Yanar was awarded with some special prizes for his TV comedy show "Was guckst du". In 2005 he was awarded with the "Grüne Palme" for his special efforts for international understanding.

More about Kaya Yanar on his official website: www.kaya-yanar.de

Interview: Evelyn Garski
12. September 2008
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Mr. Kaya Yanar,
thank you very much for taking the time to answer some question to bollywood-worldwide.com

After the press announcement by SensAsianMedia Ltd. (organizer of Tempation Reloaded 2008 in Germany) you would be a part of the show together with Shahrukh Khan (SRK) and other famous personalities from Hindi Cinema, many Bollywood-Fans from various forums started to ask:

E.Garski:
How did it happens that a famous German Stand Up Comedian became a part of an Indian Bollywood-Dance-Show as special guest ?

Kaya Yanar:
Once Stefan Raab (* a famous German TV entertainer) spoke about that I had started the Bollywood-Hype in Germany
with my perfomance of "Ranjid" in 2001. Maybe he organizer thought the same and as "thank you" I got the "Special Act".

E.Garski:
Much was discussed about your special act and how it could looks like: are you moderating the show ? Or can we see you as a "warm up-person" or during the show in a dancing/singing part or in a sketch together with SRK? Is there a common performance planned with SRK ?

Kaya Yanar:
Oh, this are really nice ideas. We might be anxious to it.

E.Garski:
Bollywood and its songs were a theme in your Comedy show „Was guckst Du“. What does it mean to you soon to be on stage with Bollywood´s superstar ?

Kaya Yanar:
It is difficult to imagine how it would be to be on stage with one of the greatest stars on this planet. I think I will understand afterwards this outstanding moment. It is an amazingly honour to work together with Shahrukh Khan. I´m a great fan of him.

E.Garski:
Are you a fan of Bollywood movies and what do you know about Shahrukh Khan ?

Kaya Yanar:
Of course I´m a Bollywood fan and I propagate it again and again in my stage performance. I adore Shahrukh Khan´s career. He early lost his parents and nevertheless he struggled through. His best movies have a lovely conciliative character and he himself seems to be humble despite his gigantic success. This all impresses me a lot.

E.Garski:
Are you prepared to meet the challenge of a huge crowd of die-hard SRK-Fan´s on stage ?

Kaya Yanar:
Of course! I take some dancing classes, let my hair grow and learn Hindi at the moment:Main tum se pyaar karta huun!

E.Garski:
With your comedian portraying of the Indian "Ranjid" you reached the heart of many fans. Of course they are jokey asking if you would too present "Ranjid" during the show with SRK and probably with your cow "Benita"? (note: In Kaya Yanar´s TV show he became famous with his role as Ranjid who has a real cow named Benita).

Kaya Yanar:
Again a nice idea...

E.Garski:
How did you get the idea of "Ranjid"?

Kaya Yanar:
I met "Ranjid" in Frankfurt/Main. Wie exchanged a lot of stories. Mostly I listened to him when he talked about his youth with his typical accent. I was nearly mesmerized and started zu imitate his style. As a kind of affection.

E.Garski:
In your character als "Ranjid" you are portraying a little scatterbrained but likeable Indian. Do you think SRK as Indian and his collegues/crew would accept and understand this comedian performance ? (note: this was a discussion in forums). What kind of experience do you have with the Indian mentality ?

Kaya Yanar:
I met a lot of Indians and I´m friends with some of them. However they became "westernised". Insofar I´m sharing their stories and awareness of life as an "immigrant". This bonds together. My Indian friends have a lot of humour, a huge vitality and they are very nice.

E.Garski:
Once you mentioned in an interview you would like to travel through India to present the country and culture in a witty TV documentation combined with your comedy character "Ranjid". What happened with this idea ?

Kaya Yanar:
The idea is still there, but no channel want to pay it. Sadly.

E.Garski:
Presently you are very successful touring with your current program "Made in Germany" through Germany. There you are showing the German mentality in the way you think. And how are the Germans in your opinion ?

Kaya Yanar:
For this you have to join one of my live performances. You want to spare the 20 Euros entree, right? Never ever!

E.Garski:
Your tour program is very comprehensive. How do you face all the dates and the neccessary travelling and interviews?

Kaya Yanar:
This works out very good. I wouldn´t face a life without dates, travelling and interviews.

E.Garski:
What about after "Made in Germany"? Maybe Kaya Yanar as "Hero" on screen ?

Kaya Yanar:
Perhaps I get a small Slapstick-role in one of Shahrukh Khan´s next movies. This would be a dream of me. I have no luck with German cinema. I haven´t any German movie-mentality.

E.Garski:
Do you want to tell some personal words to you fans and the fans of Bollywood ?

Kaya Yanar:
For many years now Im a friend of Bollywood-culture. I imitate the "Indian dialect" since 10 years now with great success. I´m very thankful for this. My German fans love Ranjid and all Indian stuff and I´m very happy to be a part as "Special Act" at the "Temptation Reloaded Tour 2008" with Shahrukh Khan. But I have one question: Should it now called "Mullywood" (as an witty adaption to his character Ranjid and the cow)?


Bollywood-worldwide thanks you cordially for this interview and is looking forward to see you live on stage during the Temptation Reloaded 2008 (17.-19. October) and hopefully at the After-Show Parties in Berlin and Frankfurt. We wish you all the best and a lot of succes for your show and upcoming projects.