Both Karan and Balli are my reflections: Shaalien Malhotra of 'Ziddi Dil - Maane Na'

Sony SAB’s Ziddi Dil - Maane Na is known for keeping the hearts pumping as it goes through enthralling plot twists and heartwarming moments between the characters. While Karan (Shaalien Malhotra) finally decides to propose to Monami (Kaveri Priyam) and even takes his mother’s ring for the same, there is trouble lurking in the paradise with Dhanu (Bhamini Oza) laying a trap to capture Karan and replace him with his doppelganger, Balli. After a carefully orchestrated accident, Balli finally steps into the academy, trying his best to keep the façade on and behave like the real Karan Shergill.

In a conversation, Shaalien Malhotra got talking about playing a double role, upcoming track and much more. Read on the interview below.

How was the transformation from Karan to Balli?

I think it’s beautiful as an actor to reprise different portrayals. You feel enriched, recharged, motivated and there’s something to look forward to. You feel alive because there’s so much that you are doing. I wanted to give the audience an authentic feel for both the characters and anticipate what Balli’s next move could be. So, I had to introspect as well on how Balli would react to certain situations and how Karan would react to the same.  I focused a lot on minute details to make both the characters look real and believable.

What preparations did you do to adapt to Balli’s accent and mannerisms?

My parents are the reason behind it as I’m a Punjabi. Also, the fact that he is more flamboyant, gives me as an actor, the scope to explore more and eventually deliver more. That is why I always feel that villains are more famous than heroes as characters, because they have more freedom to go crazy. So, if audiences love me as Karan, who is more reserved, I had to make sure they loved Balli’s character twice as much as that of Karan’s character.

What is your opinion on the upcoming track?

I think it is a remarkable track, especially because it's been explored after a long time. I haven’t heard of a double role like this in a while.  It is not very commercial or cliched and that is going to be the main selling point of the track.

Now that you have donned a different character on Ziddi Dil, whom do you connect with more, Karan or Balli?

Both are my reflections; I can see both the characters now when I stand in front of a mirror. The day I stop seeing either of them is the day I am being untrue to the actor that I am and the character that I play.

The show has completed 150 episodes. How has been the journey so far?

It has been a beautiful experience. A lot of people don’t know that this is the maximum number of episodes I’ve ever done in a show in such a short time. My first show was a bi-weekly and we touched 150 in a span of one and a half or two years. So, if I am still sticking to the show, it means the show is really nice, because people are giving it a lot of love. There’s always something new to look forward to and that is the most motivational thing in the world.