Anupamaa actor Vaquar Shaikh: "Personally, I don't feel that television will ever be in danger"

Actor Vaquar Shaikh is someone who has been doing television for quite sometime now. He has proved his versatility time and again through shows like Vidya, Saaya, Qubool Hai, Heena, Jannat and Saara Akaash. He has showcased his talent and people have always showered love on him for his performance. Currently, he's seen in Rajan Shahi’s popular show Anupamaa. Sharing his experience as an actor in television shows, he says,”I have been around for quite some time on television and have done many shows. I have almost forgotten how many lead roles I've played in shows. It is the result of years and years of discipline, hard work, and dedication that puts me in the position I'm in  today. Looking effortless today is the fruit of all that effort. 

Experience is something that you cannot see and measure. It’s there in you, and it keeps coming. Even today, I am experiencing it. It's not like If you have gained experience, it's over. Even today, I am learning something new and will continue to learn with each day that comes. I guess the experience of so many years has helped me a lot in approaching my new role. And at the end of the day, I  have my writer and my creatives to help and guide me.  So somewhere, I have learned the knack of getting hold of a character, and I feel that if I am portraying a character, I should know what to wear and how to look. If you're seen as your character, people will accept, and then, of course, you need to perform.“ 

Vaquar and Rajan Shahi could have worked together a few years back but due to some reasons, that didn't work out. They both knew that the perfect time will come and the duo will work in a show. Sharing his latest role in popular show Anupamaa, he adds,”I play this guy called Yashdeep Singh who is the younger brother of Yashpal, younger son of Biji and co-owner of the restaurant Spices and Chutney. Initially, Yashdeep was in the army, and after leaving the army, he went back to his village in Punjab. He was looking after their farms. An order from his Biji came and he went to USA again because he loves his brother and mother so much. He left India and is now staying with his mom and brother. My character's appearance is well-suited for our current location in the US during winter. He wears trench coats, jackets, and mufflers. He maintains decorum, possesses a distinctive style, and exudes politeness and charm. He is articulate, disciplined in his life, and his voice reflects these qualities. As the show progresses, you will discover the challenges he has faced in his life.”

Vaquar also shares the main changes he's noticed on television after working for so many years. “The first thing that has changed is the technical aspect. Storytelling has also undergone a bit of change, but is still fundamentally rooted in Indian sensibilities. If we leave our sensibilities and create stories, they won't work. At the end of the day, society is a mirror with whom we get inspired and create stories. Technically, a lot of things has been advanced. Cameras have changed. Dubbing techniques for recording have changed.“

In the last few years specially during and after pandemic, the TV industry is going through a transition phase where OTT and films are giving back to back competition and yet TV is retaining its audience. 

On this Vaquar says, " The competition has always been present. Initially, there were only films, and then came some platforms. First, there was Doordarshan then came other satellite channels. Television has always competed on every stage. It's still competing, and it has an audience of over 140 crores. Everything is watched in this country, and people still watch a lot of television. Personally, I don't feel that television will ever be in danger because of OTT. It has its own audience.  OTT platforms and traditional television, they both are running simultaneously since they have separate audiences. Films are also running in the theatres. Some people do prefer films if they want to watch something on the big screen for a larger-than-life experience, for the visual treat. I won't deny the fact that a certain piece of the cake has gone to OTT also, but still, there is such a big chunk left for us. Television was, and will always be there. It will never go out. As long as good content keeps coming, I think people will keep watching television. Actually, it's good to have changes. Different types of shows are coming, so television makers also want to bring diverse content, try some unique things. I hope that when something different comes, audience will appreciate it on television. So, that the makers will get inspired to make such thing. So the competition is very healthy; it depends on how you take it.”