Rishi Saxena, known as Shiv Kumar Shukla of serial Kahe Diya Pardes, interacted with Spectralhues. In this candid tête-à-tête, he reveals to us his journey as an actor, how he got a break in a Marathi serial, and much more!
Being a theatre artist, how did your path get directed towards television?
I am not actually a theatre artist, but yes, I have done theatre. As I am from Jaipur, you don`t have any solid concept there, which can be called theatre, as compared to Mumbai. Mumbai has got a strong theatre base, but it is not so in Jaipur. There is a set period in Jaipur, like at a time there are only one or two plays. All such things are rare there. So, under this, I don`t think you can consider me a theatre artist. And I don`t think I have done these many plays to call myself a theatre artist. After doing theatre for a very brief period, I got in front of camera, and by far, it has been camera.
How did you get a break in a Marathi serial, that too in a lead role?
I can say that it was pretty much destined.
I don’t believe in all of it, but now I have started to. I was doing an advertisement with Endemol and after that, honestly speaking, nothing was lined up. There was a friend of mine who was co-ordinating for this serial and I hadn`t had a talk with him for at least 4-5 months. One day, I just called him up and asked if there was something that they were doing and which even I could do. He informed me that there is this Marathi show which consists of a Hindi character. He did not tell me that it was a lead character. He told me that I would have to work for 10-12 days and asked me to audition for the role. I was instantly ready and told him that I would want to do it. On asking I got to know that the audition was on the same day.
It all happened in a row — in the morning I got to know about the audition, by evening I was done with it and the very next day I got a call, informing me that I had been selected. This was, kind of, destined, I think.
Rishi Saxena
Image Courtesy: Rishi Saxena’s Facebook page
How is the experience of working with veteran Marathi actors in your first serial as a lead?
I was very, very nervous. They are the actors in front of whom I couldn`t even dare to speak. And I kept getting the scenes wherein I had to scream or get angry at them. Meri to haalat kharab ho gayi thi.
In the very first scene with Mohan (Joshi) sir, I was quite uncomfortable, because he had no dialogues in that scene. He just had to see me and go. So, that was done. But when it came to conversing with him, I was sweating like anything. When I had to deliver a dialogue, I was actually shivering. (laughs). I had forgotten my dialogues and would say two lines and stop.
On realizing this, our director told Mohan sir about this and the two then helped me in calming down and encouraged further. After that, in my next scenes and close-up shots, I did good and got some confidence.
Share with us some behind the scenes.
The situation here has become better now. When I started working here, I didn`t know Marathi at all. I had a tad bit of idea about Marathi, because of my mother, but still did not know it very well. It has happened many times that I have said or done something weird and they are like “What are you even saying?” Now, I have started understanding it. I would want to learn Marathi. But yes, it happens many-a-times that I misinterpret what they say and do something else. (laughs hard).
You have become popular in a short span of time. Your fanbase is increasing day by day, especially among teenagers. So, how is the feeling?
It kind of appears unreal to me. I have not even been able to accept the fact that I am getting so much of attention, as of now. It will take some time. To be honest, it is really difficult to manage (laughs). I have got no experience of all this; it is all new for me.
Tell us some fun fact about yourself which your fans would love to know.
There is a thing, which is not actually a fun fact but people would like to know.
In the first audition I gave and the first shoot I did, I was scolded like anything. I was literally banged out of the audition. I was told that if I could work on my body and my style of walking, then why couldn’t I work on my acting skills? Untill then I had not acted. It wasn`t their mistake, it was obviously mine. I didn’t know anything about acting, back then. I had gone straightaway for the audition. I have had many such experiences. But I can`t call them as bad, because I learnt a lot from them, though I also had to hear a lot. (laughs heartily)
I didn’t even know I am that cute or something. And all of a sudden I have started feeling that yes, I can be categorized as cute. Till now, I was not even aware of it.
How is Shiv in real life?
I like making friends. I would want to go and meet people. I like music. I like playing cricket. Though I don`t play it these days, I love watching it. I like watching movies.
Whenever I get a day off, I sit at home and do Movie Marathon.
I start with it in the morning and go on till night. When I did not have a regular work, I did this only. I specifically go out and meet people, but other than that I make sure I take some time out for myself. I want to do things for myself.
Tell us about your journey as an actor.
It has not been a long time since I have started acting. It has barely been 4 years now. I was here in Bombay for 5 years. At that time I joined some theater workshops. This is how I started loving it and I wanted to do only acting after that. Then I went back to Jaipur, did some theatre over there, made some short films to keep myself happy and started doing it professionally after coming to Mumbai again. I did some small roles, episodic and cameos in Hindi serials like Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Ye Kahan Aa Gayein Hum and Swim Team. And it is good that I got Kahe Diya Pardes now; it is working well!
What would you be doing, if not acting?
I would have been a cricketer, if not an actor.
I used to play cricket professionally earlier. I have played national tournament. So, I really wanted to be a cricketer. I stopped playing it later on, but yes, I have played cricket for 8-10 years, professionally.
ImageCourtesy: Actor’s Facebook page
What have you got to say on the demands of the field, the struggle and the growing competition?
I think it is a part and parcel of this field. In our profession, if you get, you get a lot, and if not, you have to wait for it. That is what you are here for and you have to do it. I agree it is tough, but if you are dedicated to your work, things work out. I have had phases where I had no work. As I told you, I had nothing lined up. It works like that only and one cannot really complain about it.
How did you deal with the tough phases?
I have a lot of support from my parents and that is very important. I had it from the beginning itself and they have supported me throughout. I know I have had these kind of phases, but I was in my senses at that time and I knew I had someone backing me up all the time. So, for that, all the credit goes to my parents.
After having started with a brilliant concept, what is up next? Are there any offers?
Not yet (laughs). Right now I am committed to Kahe Diya Pardes. I want to give everything that I can to this project, my character and this team. Our work is like this: the next thing starts when previous one finishes. But yes, I would want to get into films, do different characters and experiment various things. As an actor, I would want to do new things.
Tags: Kahe Diya Pardes Mohan Joshi Rishi Saxena Sayalee Sanjeev Shiv Kumar Shukla Shubhangi Gokhale Zee Marathi
