Ringing in the new

Born and brought up at a shamshan ghat (graveyard) in Banaras, Rudra is unaware about leading a regular life. Although he is helpful, there is a certain animal like instinct in him. He doesn’t differentiate on the basis of a person’s gender. He would behave with a female in the same manner as a man. His world revolves around his Mai Mui (Seema Biswas) whom he loves the most.

Your last screen role, Saras (of Saraswatichandra) made you popular. Any similarities between the two characters?

Rudra and Saras are diametrically opposite. If Saras was an NRI (non-resident Indian), Rudra has never even stepped out of the shamshan ghat. He doesn’t even know what city life is all about, whereas Saras had seen the world. That character had parts of my real self, while Rudra is completely raw. He is the chosen one, with special powers. The entire look of the two characters are also very different. Rudra has a lot of anguish and anger and is more about physicality and strength. Saras, on the other hand had a humourous side to him, very much akin to mine.

You started shooting for Mahakumbh within days of finishing the shoot for Saraswatichandra. Was the switch difficult?

The shoot for Mahakumbh began within five days of wrapping up Saraswatichandra (in September). It was hectic, but not really difficult to switch from one to the other as talks were already underway about the show and the character. Arvind Babbal (director and producer of Mahakumbh) and I used to discuss the character and the show on a regular basis after finishing work on Saraswatichandra. Besides, as an actor, you have to be flexible.

As you mentioned, Rudra is more about physical strength involving a lot of stunts. How difficult was it to do them, as you had even hurt yourself while shooting?

You have to work hard to achieve your goal. Nothing comes easy. This show is very physical in nature. Almost all the scenes have action involved and at every step I am learning something new. I have had to transform my entire physique for it and change my diet too.

Siddharth Nigam (playing the younger Rudra) mentioned taking swimming lessons for the role.

I am learning how to swim and a lot of new things to effectively portray my character and do full justice to it.

You have been in the industry for more than a decade now, but success eluded you. The fame and popularity came only with SS.

I have been working all my life. So, it wasn’t that I was not working hard or suddenly my input to my shows increased. I was always focussed and working in the direction to become better as an actor. Sometimes, things are not in your hands. It’s all about timing. There were times when I sat and reflected on where I was going wrong. But at the end of it all, you have to negate everything and work harder to achieve your goals. I am happy that people have loved me.

With the focus shifting from female protagonists, things are looking up for male actors?

TV has certainly evolved. With makers inclined to experiment with different styles and content, things have changed. But if I have my way, I will break each story into several seasons. That way the stories will be better. We would have a bound script and the shows will be shot much in advance. If that happens, a week’s bad ratings won’t change the entire plot of the show just to fetch better ratings. Mahakumbh is planned on that format. It has a total of 120 episodes divided into two seasons. Television content will thus become much better if the concept is taken up seriously.

Do you plan to venture into production?

Yes, of course. I have many stories in my head. I would love to produce a love story or a show based around a sport.

And what about films? Except for a few stints, we haven’t really seen you on the big screen?

It all depends on the kind of offers I get. Television has given me everything that I could have asked for in my life — popularity, respect, fan base and the kind of work I would like to do. But, if something better comes my way I would definitely do it, although I am happy and content with what I have.

priyanka.bhadani@expressindia.com