'My Dimples are my biggest asset '- Vinay Rohrra

Tell us something about how you were approached for Laagi Tujhse Lagan?
I had worked with the same creative team earlier for 'Hum Dono hai Alag Alag' albeit for a cameo. When they began with this new project they found me apt for the role of Bajirao. We had a look test and that's how I bagged the role.

What was your idea on signing up this role?
Frankly I was not very sure about it. Because people in the industry had always approached me for a chocolate boy role and when they offered me the character of a gangster I found it a bit weird. I had never dreamt that I would be approached for such a character. But as an actor, challenges have to be accepted and it has turned out to be good.

How was the transition from Lord Swaminarayan to a gangster?
Yes these are two contrasting characters and my first expression about the entire scenario was 'Oh my God'! I mean it has no comparison. But when I was offered that mythological character I just wanted to give it a try. I wanted to experiment with my own talent. So it was a great experience.

Your character as Ranbir in RanbirRano had gained immense popularity. How often do people refer to you as Ranbir nowadays?
Unfortunately, not much as I had left the serial half way. But when I was shooting for the serial, I still remember, a girl had come all the way from Jaipur to Mumbai… just to meet me! I was so very touched and thankful to her for taking the pain of travelling all the way just to see me. I just felt amazing!

And how well do people relate to you as Bajirao now?
Aah…I would say a lot! Whenever people recognize me as Bajirao at public places they start communicating with me in my character tone. Like they would come up to me and say, "Kya Baji kaisa hai?" and stuff like that. I feel so great that I have been able to convince the audience with my acting.
A bang incident happened during one of our outdoor shoots. When I, Mishal and Mahi were walking on the road, suddenly a localite waved saying, "Kya Baji kya chal raha hai?" and I was speechless. But it's a very soothing feeling.

Did you give any self inputs for your look in the serial?
Basically there is a friend of mine who talks in this Mumbai loafer accent and he gives me lot of inputs for usage of new words in the serial. Sometimes we mix up two words and create a new word all together.
For example the new word that I have come up with is 'Mastaan' and for me it means a person who lives life on his own terms, a Bindass kind of character. I'm planning to use it soon on my serial.

So what do you think is the strength of Bajirao character?
I feel the strength in both Bajirao and Vinay is being fearless.

So how much do you live your character of Bajirao off screen?
These days a lot, as in the serial people must have noticed that I keep on rolling up my kurta sleeves, so now I'm so used to doing that action so much, that I continue doing it off-screen with my t-shirt sleeves. So soon I'm going to ban myself from wearing full sleeves (giggles).
Also at times I start talking in Bajirao accent at home and my mom gives me that weird look.

Any special technique or personality style you had to learn to enhance the character?
Nothing as such. Basically I feel that once people start enacting a character on sets, then new things keep coming up unintentionally. And every character grows with time.

A lot of people like you because of your dimples, what would you comment on that?
(Laughs) I feel if I didn't have dimples I wouldn't be in this industry. I'm so very thankful to God that he gifted me with these dimples. In fact, I feel more blessed that I have deep dimples on my left cheek and for me having dimples that too so deep and prominent is like 'one pe one free' offer. For me my dimples are the biggest asset.

So what kind of comments have you received from your fans?
I interact with a lot of my fans on Facebook and there are some girls ranging between the age group of 12 to 16 who say they want to marry me. And I don't know how to react.
I feel that's the best thing about fans… they love you unconditionally. They love an actor the way they perceive him/her to be without even trying to know how he/she is in real life.

You used to take 2 hours to get into the get up of Swaminarayan whereas for Bajirao you don't take more than 15 minutes, what's the deal with that?
I would say the female celebrities in the industry started to feel they had a competition in the make-up room that's why I brought down the get-up time (laughs). But seriously it was a very difficult task especially for a person like me who is so impatient. However, the experience was exhilarating.

So coming back to your current show will Bajirao be seen portraying love towards any girl?
There are chances of a love angle popping up but nothing as such is fixed.

What different kinds of character are you planning to work on in future?
I aspire to enact a hard core romantic role. I have been waiting for it since my child artist days.

Any crush in personal life?
As of now, I feel Sonam Kapoor is very cute.

How do you expect your ideal girl to be?
As I'm a film buff so in Salman Khan's style I would say, "Mutter cheelne waale(girl who peels greepeas)" (movie Maine Pyar kiya) (laughs). I'm used to using such filmy dialogues in real life too. But jokes apart I wish to accompany a girl who could gel up well with my friends and family also; as an actor I have untimely schedules, so I expect her to be understanding and open minded.

How is Vinay as a person?
I'm an extrovert person, easy going and very hassle free. I do have mood swings but at the same time hold a very friendly approach towards life.

What are your passions?
Watching movies! I love travelling and exploring new things. And my inner passion is writing poems and Shayari which I don't do much frequently.

What do you do in free time?
I love watching movies. I still have 120 movies pending to be watched.

Are you conscious about anything in Life?
No, I believe in turning my weakness into my strength.

As you are so happy- go- lucky types, have you played any pranks on anyone?
Of course a lot (laughs). Soon, I'm planning to do a prank on my director. We have a rule on sets that whoever's mobile rings then he has to pay certain amount of fine. And some one or the other keeps paying up every day (laughs). Though my chance hasn't come yet! So if my director's mobile rings then he would be fined Rs 5000. So I'm planning to put his phone on ringing mode and make him pay the fine very soon (smiles).

Except that what kind of fun do you do on sets?
I tease Mahi (Nakusha) a lot. I keep on imitating her and she shouts saying 'Shut up Baji' but it's awesome fun!

Any message for the fans.
I love you all a lot. And it feels great to receive so many fan mails every day. Fans are the sweetest. Keep loving me.

Reporter and Author: Pooja Shenoy.