Being a part of the television industry is a tough business, and not many can live up to the pressure. Today, a handful of actors get an opportunity and make it big, with their hard work and dedication, so much so that they not only have fans in India but also in many countries abroad. One such actor, I came across recently was Arjit Taneja, who with his killer looks and sheer screen presence grabs one’s attention with ease.
Although tired with promotions, Arjit happily agreed to have a chat with me over dinner, to share his experience of working in Indonesia, bagging this show, pressure points, project choices and a lot more. Below are the excerpts:
Indonesia is a country that partly relies on Indian content and love what we do. To be honest, they are mad for Indian actors and getting so much of love out of our country, and respect for the work we do is overwhelming. Performing there for such an audience is amazing, as Indonesia genuinely has good people, who can do anything for the fans. When I was there, I used to get gifts, messages, wishes, and meet fans who come with a lot of emotions.
Leaving all that love and coming back to India is a bit tough, but the fact is we are there because of India and the work we do here. Other actors with me like Vishal Singh, Shakti Arora have done many shows here for many years now, but I have not. That’s one reason why I came back. I wanted to explore more opportunities here in India, do a lot of quality work, and then maybe someday I’ll go back to Indonesia to meet my fans there. I was there for 7 months and in the due course, I have made fond memories. It was a great, enriching experience, where I was lucky enough to learn a lot about the culture, language, and lifestyle.
My journey started with MTV Splitsvilla and when I look back today, I’m not proud of doing that show. In fact, nobody even remembers that. I was young, free and wanted to have fun, and precisely why I chose to do that show back in 2013. There were no social media platforms then, but people are quite active now. Such shows have its own pros and cons. In today’s scenario, I won’t be choosing them now. And in future too I would never do a show like Splitsvilla or Bigg Boss. It is not my cup of tea.
I did not know about the pressure when I was playing a parallel lead earlier. To be frank, I was not aware of acting initially, and I used to wonder what I was doing. But later I learned as I was given a lot of attention and guidance by my co-actors. However, there was someone who was leading the show, and it was on their shoulders. With Kaleerein, I was nervous on the first day, but I believe in a way it is good. It helps me deliver more in a certain way. As a lead of a show, people set expectations and pressure helps me do the rightful. There is a good feeling about the show, and I have been getting good responses.
My character in the show is well thought and interesting. Moreover, he is stylish and I’m not as stylish as him in real life. I wish I was. However, I have learned to style myself, from Vishal Singh, while I was in Indonesia. He nails his looks and experiments always. He used to suggest me what to do and what not, with his tips and ideas. I have learned all that and I’m getting there. Talking about the concept, Kaleerein is not only related to girls. It is what everyone goes through. Moreover, there are many other concerns and other issues which we face in our lives, and the show throws light on some of those. The subject and backdrop are strong, and there is a lot of relatability.
I want to get into anchoring. I’m very happy and inspired with Ravi (Dubey). He has amazing skills, both to act and host, and is doing great. Hosting brings a difference and is interesting. On the other hand, I would never do something that does not add value to my career. There are many television actors who have stepped into films, but I’m not very keen on doing them. Today TV and the web has a strong reach and the future lies there. The perception of the audience is changing. I believe, it is always better to do a TV show with a strong subject, than a film which does not work.
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