"Apart from 'Arjun', I would play Karan in a heartbeat" - Shaleen Malhotra exclusive on completing 13 years

What began with Arjun about 13 years ago has now transcended across to this special journey across multiple shows and several other projects as well for actor Shaleen Malhotra. From fiction shows, reality shows to much more, Malhotra has sustained despite the ups and downs, which are a part of any actor's life.

On this special occasion, Malhotra got into an exclusive conversation with us where we asked him a couple of questions about the 13 years so far, having sustained, looking back, a role he would have loved to get the same amount of love and more.

Q. 13 years in the industry now Shaleen and while it might just be another number, how do you look at this journey so far? Content, unsatisfied, happy, regretful or just a mixed bag?

Shaleen: 13 years is a very, very long time, but I think it's actually just a number because I'm still as fresh as I was in the first year that I came into the industry struggling, looking out for good work, wanting to do good work, the same passion. I think that's what keeps me going because of the love that I have for the craft, the passion that I have for being in front of the camera and the want and the always never-ending hustle to prove myself, to be seen, to be heard, to be appreciated, to be acknowledged. I think all of this is what keeps me going.

So I didn’t think it's “wow.” When you look back, it's been 13 years, but it just looks like the same. Whether I'm content, unsatisfied, happy, I think I'm really happy. I've always said this and I'll reiterate that fact: people have a dream of either, you know, when they're born in India, they either want to be a cricketer or an actor.

Very few are able to live that dream, either because of family circumstances, or something else, they end up doing something else, which is not their passion. I'm a very lucky guy who's living my dream as an actor, because I am one, who's living my passion because I love acting, who's also doing it as a profession because that's what the profession is. So I don’t think anyone is luckier than being in that whole field where your passion, your work and your dream are all aligned and you're living that.

So I think there's no regret. I think it's just happiness and I won't say satisfied because I always want to achieve more and I always criticize myself if I'm not at the level that I dream of myself in, in a particular state.

I think if I have to pick one apart from Arjun, because that is numero uno, I think it has to be Karan in Ziddi.

- Shaleen Malhotra (as told to India Forums)

Q. Every career spanning so many years has its shining moments or more popular characters than others, at least for the viewers. Arjun is an obvious choice and it was dear to you as well. What's one other character that took a lot out of you and you still think about it and have a moment?

Shaleen: I think, apart from Arjun, the other really important character, of all the characters that I've played, I've loved basically each one of them because they've been very different. I think I'm one of the very few, if not the only one, who's had so many different careers or different characters to play and I think it's being lucky as an actor because I'm not typecast in one particular role.

Even if my look says that I'm a raw, masculine, alpha, whatever terms that people have used with my personality, I've still managed to play some light-hearted characters, some twisted ones. But I think if I have to pick one apart from Arjun, because that is numero uno, I think it has to be Karan in Ziddi.

I think that was one character I really worked hard for. It's very close to my heart. It's also because it had a lot of layers and to enter a show as a character and make that show about people loving that character, I think that's a dream achieved. That's the mission accomplished because people associated with Karan not only because of the way he looks or talks, but also because he was inspiring, he was spot-on and I think I've gained a lot of acknowledgement and appreciation for that character and I really, truly love that character. I think I will play Karan, if not Arjun, again.

On the workfront, Malhotra has some exciting things lined up ahead as well.