"Virat Kohli had just gotten married, I was in lot of pain": Mihir Ahuja on how the cricketer made his career

ZEE5’s latest original, Shabad – Reet Aur Riwaaz, dives deep into the delicate balance between faith, family legacy, and personal dreams. At the centre of this emotional story is Ghuppi, a young boy trying to find his own voice in a home where tradition speaks the loudest. In an exclusive chat with India Forums, actor Mihir Ahuja spoke about stepping into Ghuppi’s world, working with Suvinder Vicky, and a special memory involving Virat Kohli that marked the beginning of his career.

Talking about his on-screen father, Mihir had nothing but warmth in his words. He revealed that Suvinder Vicky treated him like family off-screen as well. In fact, the senior actor would fondly call him his “third child,” often mentioning how he had always wished for a son. That comfort translated beautifully into their scenes together, adding emotional depth to their father-son dynamic.

Why Virat Kohli Is His ‘Luck Factor’

Apart from discussing the show, Mihir also looked back at how his acting journey began with none other than Virat Kohli.

He shared,

“That journey… and you know, coming back to this. I’ve been very lucky with the Indian captain, Virat Kohli. I’ve been very lucky because my journey started with him. My first ever on-screen work was an ad with Virat Kohli. That day I couldn’t talk to him much, and he had just gotten married in 2017, so I could only congratulate him on his wedding on set. Maybe I was also in a lot of pain, so I couldn’t really talk to anyone."

- Mihir Ahuja

Talking further about his meet, he added,

"The second time I met him was after two or maybe three years, I don’t exactly remember. I was shooting another ad for Byju’s. That’s when we properly spoke. It was a very chill set-up; we were just sitting and talking. I told him that I had done my first-ever on-screen ad with him and that he had been very lucky for my career because my journey began with him. And he remembered everything. He remembered the conversation we had earlier. He’s a great personality, and I love him, as the entire country loves him for what he does.”

- Mihir Ahuja

About the show

From sharing screen space with a cricket icon to leading a heartfelt family drama, Mihir Ahuja’s journey reflects steady growth.

Set in Punjab’s cultural landscape, Shabad – Reet Aur Riwaaz follows a respected Ragi singer, played by Suvinder Vicky, who wishes for his son to carry forward the family’s sacred musical path. But Ghuppi dreams of football, not devotional singing. What unfolds is a quiet yet powerful clash between a father’s expectations and a son’s silent rebellion.

The series, produced by Rusk Media and directed by Ameet Guptha, explores this tension with sensitivity across six episodes, now streaming on ZEE5.