He plays one of the most iconic roles in television history in Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s adaptation of the Mahabharat. Arav Chowdharry’s portrayal of Bhishma has been winning him accolades right from the first episode. In a free wheeling chat, he gets candid about the role and how it has changed the course of his acting career.
He plays one of the most iconic roles in television history in Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s adaptation of the Mahabharat. Arav Chowdharry’s portrayal of Bhishma has been winning him accolades right from the first episode. In a free wheeling chat, he gets candid about the role and how it has changed the course of his acting career. From modelling to acting how has the journey been It’s been good and quite exciting. I’ve been a model for 10 years, done lots of ad films before landing my first feature film offer for the film Laado for which I later won the National Award. I went on to bag 88 Antop Hill, Lakshya, Dhoom and No smoking to name a few. There was no looking back.
How did you land the role of Bhishma in Mahabharat I got a call from the production team to audition for the role. I asked them if they were sure about me playing Bhishma. I mean I could have played another character, and I wasn’t sure about Bhishma. But they wanted me to audition for the part and I did. I had to actually audition three to four times before getting selected. The show was going to take some time to go on floors. A month got pushed to nine months and that waiting phase was a struggle but finally it happened and I am happy.
How did you prepare for the role During the nine months of waiting, I did a lot of research on my character, worked on my physique to get into the skin of the character. I needed a warrior-like physique and mannerisms. I worked out really hard and gained 10-12 kilos of muscle mass, groomed my appearance to look the part. I researched on dialogue delivery, diction and behaviour and inculcated those in my performance.
You started off by growing your hair for the role for one-and-a-half year before chopping it off. Why Only during the initial episodes you see my long hair. But then the character grows, and his hair needed greying. I couldn’t grey my hair each day. Also wearing a wig for shorter hair was difficult when the real hair underneath was long. Wearing the mukut posed a problem too. So I ended up chopping my hair.
Tell us a little about the sword fighting and horse riding sequences. Were there any tough times shooting them There were multiple accidents in the process. We are supposed to ride on chariots pulled by horses. This one time, the horses got really wild and it was scary. Thankfully it was soon brought under control. Then on another occasion, a wheel from the chariot fell off. Once my dhoti got stuck in the wheel and I fell. It has been an adventure to say the least.
Between modelling, films and television, do you have a favourite Each medium has its own high, I can’t choose. In ad films you don’t have enough time to get creatively involved. In serials, you work round the clock and have no time to yourself. I like movies the best as you have a fixed schedule of 20 days or so and then a break. It leaves time for yourself, to groom, work on the character and live your life.
You have worked with Amitabh Bachchan in Lakshya. Tell us a little about that experience. He is a megastar and we all know that. I’ve worked with him in two films, Lakshya and Family. His punctuality and humility is commendable. On one occasion, I was waiting for my car to leave for the shoot while Amitji was already ready with his. He stopped and asked me to accompany him. On the way, we spoke a lot and then it became a routine. We even watched movies together and had dinner as well. Once back in Mumbai he kept in touch and personally invited me for the dos at his place, like Holi bash and so on. He’s a great man.
How do you unwind I like watching movies, listening to music and working out. I love biking too. Honestly, there’s no time to pursue hobbies anymore.
What do you like to watch on TV I watch nothing on TV! If I ever have time, I watch movies on a DVD.
What kind of films do you prefer to act in I’ve actually done a lot of action, so I’d like to do different genres now. I’d like to do a romantic film or a romantic comedy. I want to do all kinds of movies. I have a Kannada film releasing soon; it’s titled Ajit. It’s an action flick. I have done a very different kind of street action in the film.
Do you think luck plays an important role in one’s career Yes, of course it does. But I believe that you have to perform your karma for luck to act upon it. Be prepared each day of your life to grab every opportunity that comes your way. Hard work should always pay but of course luck makes a difference.
What, according to you, has been a landmark moment of your career Honestly I haven’t reached a point where I can say that I have had a “landmark” moment. I am still waiting for it to happen. Hopefully it comes soon.
Where do you see yourself five years from now I want to do good work, always have good things to do, see myself successful and happy. I hope my hard work pays off.
