He is charming and chivalrous and is now ready to play a monster in Zee TV’s new show Haiwan-The Monster. MUSBA HASHMI chats up ANKIT MOHAN to tell you more

What is your role?

I play Ansh, a caring and loving boy. His life revolves around his friend, Randhir (played by Param Singh), who he loves the most.  His (Ansh) love interest is Amrita played by Ridhima Pandit. But due to certain circumstances he cannot express his feelings. The story is a love triangle. As the story will unfold, viewers will witness how Ansh turns into a monster. Now, whether he is a positive character or a negative one, only time will tell. It is a sci-fi show, full of action and thrill. This makes the show an exciting watch.

What made you say yes?

The title. If someone will call you and say that you are getting to play a title role, there’s no reason to turn down such an offer. The other day, I saw myself on the billboards. I have been in Mumbai from 11 years but I never saw myself on the billboards. I feel blessed. It’s a feeling that I cannot express in words.

Even my family, who live in Delhi celebrated the launch of my show with a party. All the relatives gathered at my place. All of them went around the city in the night clicking pictures of the billboards. It was like a festival for the family.

Was there a nostalgic moment?

The most recent one is that we are shooting on the same sets as of Naagin 3 where I played Yuvraaj Sehgal. It is the same team and even the director is same. Only the actors are different in this new show. It makes me feel nostalgic every time I am shooting.

How have you evolved as an artist?

It is my third show with Balaji Telefilms after Kumkum Bhagya and Naagin 3. I can feel my growth with this. In Kumkum Bhagya I played Akaash Ajey Mishra, the role of a brother and in Naagin, I played a negative character. Now I am playing the lead. I am growing and evolving everyday and working with Balaji has been a great learning process for me.

How did acting happen?

It is a part of me. To begin with, I never wanted to be an actor. In Delhi, it is like a tradition that if you are born in a business family, you have to become a businessman. I was also groomed to take over the family business. But destiny has a different trajectory for me; I was destined to be an actor and it all started with Roadies Season 4. I auditioned for it in Delhi and got selected. It was a turning point. This was the time when my inclination towards acting happened and there’s no looking back.

How supportive was your family?

My father didn’t want me to get into acting. I bargained with him. I asked him to let me go and stay in Mumbai for a month and if things don’t pan out well, I  would return. That one month has turned into 11 years.

How was the experience doing Roadies?

It was great. I didn’t have any idea about the camera angles or how the industry worked. I went there just for fun. I shared a great rapport with Ranvijay Singha (host) and he was helpful throughout.

Were there challenges?

I was rejected many times. But it never demotivated me. Instead, I was stubborn ki ab toh mujhey actor banna hi hai. I am from Delhi and the stubborness comes from being born and brought up in the city. The reason I didn’t give up was that there was a lot of pressure from my relatives. I didn’t want to give them a chance to tell my parents ki dekho aap ka beta Mumbai gaya aur kuch nahin kar paaya.

Other than this the challenge was to earn a living. It was not like back home where you are being served everything on a platter. Here, it was like daily kuan khodo aur pani peeyo. Nothing was ready made, I had to do everything by myself.

Writer: MUSBA HASHMI

Courtesy: The Pioneer

He is charming and chivalrous and is now ready to play a monster in Zee TV’s new show Haiwan-The Monster. MUSBA HASHMI chats up ANKIT MOHAN to tell you more

What is your role?

I play Ansh, a caring and loving boy. His life revolves around his friend, Randhir (played by Param Singh), who he loves the most.  His (Ansh) love interest is Amrita played by Ridhima Pandit. But due to certain circumstances he cannot express his feelings. The story is a love triangle. As the story will unfold, viewers will witness how Ansh turns into a monster. Now, whether he is a positive character or a negative one, only time will tell. It is a sci-fi show, full of action and thrill. This makes the show an exciting watch.

What made you say yes?

The title. If someone will call you and say that you are getting to play a title role, there’s no reason to turn down such an offer. The other day, I saw myself on the billboards. I have been in Mumbai from 11 years but I never saw myself on the billboards. I feel blessed. It’s a feeling that I cannot express in words.

Even my family, who live in Delhi celebrated the launch of my show with a party. All the relatives gathered at my place. All of them went around the city in the night clicking pictures of the billboards. It was like a festival for the family.

Was there a nostalgic moment?

The most recent one is that we are shooting on the same sets as of Naagin 3 where I played Yuvraaj Sehgal. It is the same team and even the director is same. Only the actors are different in this new show. It makes me feel nostalgic every time I am shooting.

How have you evolved as an artist?

It is my third show with Balaji Telefilms after Kumkum Bhagya and Naagin 3. I can feel my growth with this. In Kumkum Bhagya I played Akaash Ajey Mishra, the role of a brother and in Naagin, I played a negative character. Now I am playing the lead. I am growing and evolving everyday and working with Balaji has been a great learning process for me.

How did acting happen?

It is a part of me. To begin with, I never wanted to be an actor. In Delhi, it is like a tradition that if you are born in a business family, you have to become a businessman. I was also groomed to take over the family business. But destiny has a different trajectory for me; I was destined to be an actor and it all started with Roadies Season 4. I auditioned for it in Delhi and got selected. It was a turning point. This was the time when my inclination towards acting happened and there’s no looking back.

How supportive was your family?

My father didn’t want me to get into acting. I bargained with him. I asked him to let me go and stay in Mumbai for a month and if things don’t pan out well, I  would return. That one month has turned into 11 years.

How was the experience doing Roadies?

It was great. I didn’t have any idea about the camera angles or how the industry worked. I went there just for fun. I shared a great rapport with Ranvijay Singha (host) and he was helpful throughout.

Were there challenges?

I was rejected many times. But it never demotivated me. Instead, I was stubborn ki ab toh mujhey actor banna hi hai. I am from Delhi and the stubborness comes from being born and brought up in the city. The reason I didn’t give up was that there was a lot of pressure from my relatives. I didn’t want to give them a chance to tell my parents ki dekho aap ka beta Mumbai gaya aur kuch nahin kar paaya.

Other than this the challenge was to earn a living. It was not like back home where you are being served everything on a platter. Here, it was like daily kuan khodo aur pani peeyo. Nothing was ready made, I had to do everything by myself.

Writer: MUSBA HASHMI

Courtesy: The Pioneer