I'm in the seventh heaven'

Barun Sobti rose to fame with the series Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon. However, his subsequent foray into films like Main Aur Mr Right was unsuccessful, and he turned his attention to OTT platforms. Now, Barun’s star is shining bright. He has won various awards for his performance as Nikhil Nair in Asur 2, and his next show is titled Badtameez Dil. The actor, who has a line-up of five shows, each showing him in a different avatar, has proved that the film industry is all about the survival of the fittest.

Barun, who attributes the revival of his career to the introduction of OTT, answers a flurry of questions about his career graph for DC.

Q. Your very first show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon conferred the ‘heartthrob’ status on you. And now, you’re back to the romancing mode in Badtameez Dil. Tell us more about the series.

Badtameez Dil is not a run-of-the-mill show. It is romance, comedy and drama. I play a character called Karan who starts off as a very practical person. The story spans 9 years and it is about what the characters go through in that time.

Q. You seem to have bounced back after your initial setback in films. How do you see your present stint?

I have survived so far. I persisted  even though I was out of work. The kind of work I am doing now will help me thrive in this industry.

Q. How do you see your career graph from here on?

I think I’m in the right place at the right time. Asur 2, my recently-released show, is doing phenomenally well. I think Badtameez Dil will also do well. It is a very different genre. No light-hearted shows are being made nowadays. I have a very intense police drama Kohrra. I play an ASI. I play a cop in Donali too. Another show I have is an adult political drama. They are all different, and I play different people in them.

Q. Did you do preparatory workshops for your projects?

Times have changed. Actors can’t just walk into sets, as people demand so much.

Everybody wants good actors. Every show has workshops now. We did extensive workshops for Kohrra, Donali, and other projects too.

Q. Do you think your career is shining again because the OTT platform has opened up new vistas for actors and technicians?

Oh, without an iota of doubt, I would credit OTT platforms for the revival of my career. The OTT happened in the US first; that was the time I was ‘vella’ (without work).

I remember telling my wife that I hoped the change would come to India too. I am happy that it did, and I got a chance to fit in pretty nicely. I’m in the seventh heaven now as I’m getting more work.