‘I did not get any help when I started out’

Gaurav Bajaj, who plays Sher Singh in Life Ok’s Piya Rangrezz, has worked hard to get where he is now. Says the actor, “I am from Indore and I had always wanted to become an actor.

After I finished my studies, my father wanted me to join his business, but later he supported my choice of becoming an actor. I am happy that with the blessings of my parents I have been able to make it on the small screen.”

He adds, “I am in no hurry to try my luck on big screen, I am happy with whatever I am doing at present. However, my father was very clear that he would allow me to try my luck in the industry for just one year. Luckily I got my first show Sapno Se Bhare Naina in only six months.”

“For Sher Singh’s role, I had to undergo about eight to 10 look tests. Though I am playing a bad boy in the serial, I am actually a mama’s boy… I remember my mom was excited when I got this role, but now she sometimes gets teary and says, ‘I have never seen this side of yours… You are not like this, why are you so naughty and nasty?’ I have to keep telling her that this is not real.
“When I played a positive Haryanvi character in an earlier serial, I got a lot of compliments but now that I am playing this bad boy, I am getting more applause.

“This character is unlike me. I am a positive person and I do not like to get angry,” he says. “I remember while I was doing my first show, I did not get much support from anyone. Not that I am complaining. It was like I had to put in all my body and soul into my character. When you are new you usually expect someone to help you. And unlike what I experienced during my initial stage, I am always helping my co-actor Kirtida Mistry. She is new and she was initially a bit nervous. I tried to make her comfortable and now she is fine,” adds Gaurav.

“Playing Sher Singh was not easy; he is from UP and since I belong to MP, I was told to watch various films to get the dialect right. But I was of the opinion that if I watched some films I would tend to copy that actor. I really wanted to put in something of my own. I read a book which portrays a naughty character like mine and I worked on the dialect for a few days and here I am… I want my character to be established in such a manner that audiences will remember it for many years.

“Sher Singh’s mother is a crook but she gives in to his demands. She knows that if she does not let him do what he wants to do, he will create some other problem. She has created misunderstandings between Sher Singh and his wife. Slowly he gets to know that his wife is not a part of the conspiracy. Later in the show, the most intriguing part of my character will be how I balance the relationship between my mother and my wife, in spite of knowing that my mom played games.”

What’s the status with the real-life wife? “My wife is not from the film industry. Ours is an arranged marriage and we are a happily married couple.”