We've been receiving an overwhelming amount of love for the show. And as an artist, there's nothing more rewarding than the appreciation from the audience. I'm genuinely grateful that
Naam Namak Nishan came my way; it's been a blessing. One of my most challenging aspects was portraying a "cadet." We spent time interacting with cadets at the OTA, which was an eye-opening experience for both my character,
Gurbaaz, and me. I gained invaluable insights into what cadets endure while training to become officers—the immense mental, physical, and emotional toll they undergo during the course. What resonated with me the most was the profound sense of selflessness required to serve your country instead of yourself. The combination of rigorous training and unwavering dedication is something that, as civilians, we often don't fully grasp.
How did you prep for the role?
I've always wanted to play a character that would allow me to explore my comedic side, and Gurbaaz gave me that opportunity. He’s the kind of guy you can rely on, someone who lives without barriers and does whatever he feels like. I loved that about him—his freedom, fluidity, and the way he carried himself. Those were the aspects of his character that intrigued me the most. As a national skeet rifle champion, Gurbaaz had to be athletic, so I spent significant time training to build a physique that could realistically handle those rifles and endure long training periods. We even went to Pune for rifle training to prepare for the role. Sports training, including swimming, boxing, and basketball, became a regular part of my routine leading up to the shoot. We also did a lot of drill training at the OTA, which was incredibly fun.
You've also recorded songs for Naam Namak Nishan and Mismatched. How was that experience for you? How does it differ from recording your singles?
Music has always been another powerful medium of expression for me. While acting allows me to convey a character's emotions, music has been my way of expressing myself from the beginning. When I create songs for a show, I often draw inspiration directly from the scenes, writing and composing to capture the mood and essence of the moment. When it comes to my own singles, there's a bit more creative freedom, but I don't really differentiate between the two. I love making music, and I feel fortunate to be able to do it not just for myself but also for the shows I work on. It's something I've always dreamed of doing.
Slow Down, Paraye, and Saza seem heavily conceptualized. How did these projects come together? You also have a distinct singing style - how did you discover 'your voice'?
At first, I never really considered myself a singer—I was more of an average guitar player who wanted to sing but couldn’t quite do it. I worked on my singing independently, and although I wish I had trained with a teacher, those bathroom sessions helped boost my confidence. After that, I started writing and experimenting with my music, mixing and matching it all together.
From Jugaadistan and The Fame Game to now Naam Namak Nishan, how has your journey been so far? What have you learned from each character?
It's been quite a roller coaster! I've always aimed to play diverse characters, and it’s fascinating how they’ve all turned out to be different. Each character has taught me valuable life lessons through their choices and perspectives. For instance, Gurbaaz from Naam Namak Nishan helped me understand empathy, while Sunny from CAT taught me about the depths of love and the lengths one can go for it. Playing Samar in The Fame Game showed me the essence of selflessness, and Gagan Kishore from Jugaadistan reinforced the importance of standing your ground.
What kind of role do you want to play in the future?
I would love to play a gangster and a musician—those are the first two roles that come to mind when I think about future projects. Growing up watching classics like The Godfather and Scarface, I’ve always thought it would be fun to explore a character in that gritty, complex world. And as for playing a musician, it would be incredible to bring my passion for music into a role on screen.
Transitioning from singing to acting, when did you first feel the pull of the arts that led you to pursue this career? Additionally, you have collaborated on many videos with Taruk Raina—how did that partnership come about?
Acting was my first love, and it ended up supporting my journey into singing. I was never really sure if I could be an actor or a singer—or maybe I did know, but I was too scared to believe in it. I've always been drawn to the arts, acting in school plays and college theatre, with music also a part of my life, though I didn't get to perform it as much back then. Taaruk and I met on the sets of Jugaadistan and we clicked right away. We're both passionate actors with a love for making music, which brought us together. In fact, during the first three days of the shoot, we even created some songs in our hotel room. That’s when we truly bonded, and now, a couple of years later, he's one of my closest friends in Bombay. We’re both eager to release some of our music together and hope to do it soon.
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