Mohit Raina's ongoing performance as Lord Shiva In Devon Ke Dev Mahadev has the nation bowing to this soft-spoken Kashmiri. He is overwhelmed by the reverence and adulation. A self-confessed Mama's Boy, he lives in Mumbai with his mother. Cutting down talk of being involved with his co-star Mouni Roy and of a marriage proposal from Priyanka Chopra, Mohit says, "There have been linkups, but all untrue. Seriously, there's no time. All I do is shoot and go to the gym." His father passed away two years ago, and his mother who lives with me is inundated with requests of, 'Bhagwan ke darshan kara do.' Says the actor, "But my mother doesn't take me seriously. She doesn't think I am a good actor. She thinks I am overrated, doing just-about okay."
Being Shiva A screen-god who is the nation's sex symbol sure sounds contradictory. Laughs Mohit, "The kind of attention I get is way beyond my comprehension. I know they're reacting to Shiva Bhagwan and not to Mohit Raina. But still the attention is disconcerting. Whenever I meet people they feel they know me. There is an accessibility to Lord Shiva. He's a people's God. People love me. I couldn't ask for more. They are looking at me in a way they've never looked at screen gods before. I am happy and grateful for that"
Darshan de do Fans and admirers from all over the country want a darshan of this tele Shiva. But Mohit who shoots for the serial round-the-clock has a a one-point contact address with the outside world. "I am not an outgoing person. I don't party or socialise. Not only because I can't (considering my image). But because I don't want to. This is a lifetime opportunity for me. Even if I was tempted to socialise and womanise, I would have given up the thought for this role. But I am not that kind of person. I have to go to the gym to be able to expose Shiva bhagwan's torso in every episode. People have gotten to know I visit the gym every day. They comeand stand outside my gym. I have seven-year old girls, 57-year old aunties and 85-year old grandparents desirous of a darshan."
No complains For Maha Shivratri this year, Mohit couldn't perform Shiva Puja at home. "My mother was upset. I had requested for a holiday and my producers laughed their heads off. I made sure I performed Shiv puja after I returned home from shooting. But I can't complain. I love what I am doing. "
Destress mantra As a Shiva devotee, Mohit found it easy to slip into character. "Initially, I wasn't sure if I could play God. But my dad was a Shiv bhakt and that helped me to get into character. In Kashmir, my father would take me to the Amarnath temple." Switching off everyday after shooting wasn't easy. The small screen God then figured out a formula, "I do a 15-minute meditation and breathing exercise every day after shooting. That helps me to come out of character." The modelling days Going back to the beginning of his journey Mohit says, "I am from Jammu and Kashmir. I always wanted to be part of Mumbai's entertainment world. I participated in Grasim's Mr India contest in 2006. That's how it all started for me. I was modeling for a while but soon realised it was not my cup of tea. I wanted to try my hand at acting. I started with some serials like Chehra that didn't do well. I also did a film Don Muthu Swamy with Mithun Chakraborty. I tried my luck here and there. Finally I got Devon Ke Dev Mahadev. I was destined to play the part. And now people know who Mohit Raina is, albeit as Lord Shiva. Some supreme power wanted me to play Shiva. And I am doing what He wanted me to."
Hope floats After 17 hours of work Mohit heads home and that's his life, "No regrets, I get so much happiness when people tell me their lives have changed because of the serial." About desisting from love involvements Mohit quips, "A real-life Parvati would demand time and attention. I can't give her that, I am sure in the future I will have a Parvati, and Ganesh and Kartik (the kids) will follow." Sometimes his 'devotees' shock him, "It's not easy being God. But it's exhilarating. I tell people not to touch my feet because I am not God. It started with a guy who travelled all the way from Himachal. He insisted I bless him. Since then I wonder who am I to deprive people of hope?"
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