MUSBA HASHMI speaks with SANJAY GAGNANI, who plays Prithvi in Zee TV’s Kundali Bhagya, about his excitement of getting back to work, how hard is it to adapt to the new normal and the twists that he is about to bring in the show
How does it feel like to be back on sets?
It feels great. I never thought that I will be away from sets for such a long time, it feels amazing to be working again. I feel alive when I am infront of the camera. My workplace is my temple and I feel fortunate to be allowed to visit the temple.
Is it hard to adapt to the new normal, especially when you are working?
Yes, it is extremely tough. But since we don’t have any other option but to follow all the norms, in order to be safe, we have to adapt to it. But having said that, it is tough to take care of sanitisation and to maintain social distancing. Because when you are working, your focus is solely on work but now the energies are diverted and yet we have to be our best and be safe as well.
Between action and cut, do you struggle to maintain social distancing? Does that bother you?
When I am in between the shot, I don’t think about any other thing but to give the best shot. Between action and cut, I am transported to a different world. When I am enacting a scene, precautions and social distancing are mere words. Because it is not practically possible, you can’t keep a six-feet distance from your co-actors and then perform. When I am Prithvi, I am living his world. Once the director calls it cut, I make sure that I am following all the norms. Before and after every scene, I get the floor and things that I touch, sanitised properly.
Many shows are now making sanitiser, face shields and masks a part of the show. Can we expect the same with Kundali Bhagya?
No, I don’t think so we are using any of these things in the scenes. After the lockdown, it’s been three weeks since we started shooting again. Since then we haven’t used a mask or a face shield in the scenes, because the content doesn’t require it. People don’t want to see actors wearing masks onscreen. They are already so bugged up seeing all these things in their surroundings. All they want from us is entertainment, and they have been longing to see our faces. They will just change the channel if they will see similar things in daily soaps too.
Prithvi is about to bring in a lot of twists in the show. What should the audience look forward to?
Ironically, Prithvi has been wearing a mask, not a precautionary one but a mixture of the one in Joker and Money Heist. The reason being the other characters don’t recognise him. He has kidnapped Rishabh for obvious reasons, he wants to snatch all the wealth and property of the Luthras. He is trying his best to get the papers signed by Rishabh. Anyone or everyone who becomes an obstacle for him, will be in pain. Now whether he’ll got caught red-handed by the Luthra family or he will succeed in his mission is what the audience has to find out in the coming episodes.
Were there any apprehensions about the role, given that it is a negative lead?
Absolutely not. I didn’t have even one per cent of apprehension. Initially, it was supposed to be only two-three months cameo. I was told if the character is well-received by the audience, it might get an extension, however there was no confirmation. But then, the audience loved Prithvi so much that he became a part of the show. Also, not to mention Kundali Bhagya has been a turning point of my career.
Was acting always your calling?
I was an entertainer in school and college. I used to participate in events. I was always the one to take the first step and approach the principal, if I can perform at school functions. Whenever, I used to perform, I saw a lot of happy faces around me. That’s when I realised that I am born to entertain. At that time, it was just about being an entertainer, that acting was not so common. Then in my college days, I started doing street plays and that got me thinking that I can be an actor. I attended an acting workshop in Pune and my teacher told me that I have the potential to do something big in life and that I should move to Mumbai and try my luck. That’s how I gained trust in my craft and took a leap of faith.
In Mumbai, I did a diploma in filmmaking but I told all my friends that I am meant to be infront of the camera. And if anyone makes a short film, then he doesn’t need to look for anyone else because they have an in-house actor in me. It was followed by auditions and then my TV career was started with Bairi Piya, which was a product of Balaji Telefilms. I started with Balaji, did other shows and now again I am back to Balaji, it has been a full circle.
