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Kumkum Bhagya's Abhi' Shabir Ahluwalia: I won't leave the show when I am getting so much love
Kumkum Bhagya has brought Shabir Ahluwalia so much love and recognition that the show's lead Abhi has no desire to quit it
Actor Shabir Ahluwalia's popularity is at an all-time high courtesy his role as Abhishek Abhi' Mehra in the show Kumkum Bhagya. The daily show is topping the charts consistently week after week. In an exclusive interview with indianexpress.com, Shabir " who plays the show's male lead Abhi " tells us what it means to be loved by the masses.
How does it feel when you see Kumkum Bhagya topping the charts time and again?
It feels good when you show is appreciated and loved. It's all thanks to our viewers and fans. It feels good when your performance is reciprocated with so much love.
When you signed the project, did you ever imagine that the show would touch such high ratings?
As an actor, when you take a project you hope that it does really well. You put the best foot forward. We worked really hard as a team and it feels good when your efforts pay off.
What do you think has worked in the show's favour and touched the audience's pulse?
There is no one thing that I can pinpoint. It's a collective effort of everyone. Right from those behind the camera to the ones in front of it, it's a team effort. Speaking about what may have connected with the audience, I think it is the story they have been able to identify with. Sometimes a story just clicks.
Your pairing with Sriti Jha has been much appreciated. What is the reason behind the chemistry?
We just have fun on sets and that comes on screen. If you were to see the outtakes of the show, you will see that we are having fun. You have to enjoy what you do.
How is Sriti as an actress?
Sriti is fantastic. She is really talented, committed and a great co-star to work with.
What keeps you going as an actor?
It is the love of our viewers. Your talent and hard work can take you ahead for some time. It can't keep driving or motivating forever if you don't get love from the audience. The moment you see that the show and your performance are being well-received and talked about, it motivates you to work harder.
Will you ever reach a saturation point?
I don't think I will ever reach a saturation point with acting. Yes, every creative process gets exhausting but you do need your time off and take a break. You got to relax and make sure you give yourself enough time so that anything you do doesn't frustrate you. Also, you should never end up doing anything just for the sake of doing it. Do it because you love doing it.
Why don't we see you much in Bollywood?
First of all, because I have been tied up with Kumkum. There have been certain projects that came my way but taking that up would have meant leaving Kumkum Bhagya. And the kind of love that I am getting from viewers and fans, I don't think now is the right time and the kind of offers that came my way weren't something that I wanted to do. Television is a great medium to reach out to your fans on an everyday basis. People work very hard to get this love and adulation. So I don't want to leave this show while I am getting all that. When something good comes up, I can do it. I don't want to leave one thing for the another. TV is extremely big as a medium and it shouldn't be taken for granted. I will do films but I will not do any film. It should be worth the wait.
So lead is what you are looking for?
It can be anything. It should be something that should excite the actor inside me. Till the time I am not excited about the role, how will I excite the audience? I feel the audience should take back home something after watching a performance.
Is Bollywood open to taking successful television actors into films today?
It's about what is viable. It is about what project suits which actor. Some project could work well with a movie actor and some with a TV actor. Because an actor is ultimately an actor and it depends on what capacity you are using him in your project. If the storytelling is right, the image of the actor doesn't matter. It's about how well you tell your story with the actors you have in your story. And it is eventually a director's vision How he sees his project. It's got nothing to do with the actors. I don't see any difference between a film actor and television actor. An actor is an actor regardless of the medium involved.
What are your future plans?
No more kids as of now (laughs). I am taking things as they come. I don't plan long. I enjoy my life and work hard.
Do you still take your wife (Kanchi Kaul) out on dates?
Oh yes. That has to happen. I really enjoy doing that. As an actor, you have to manage that. We go out on holidays and even when I am at home, it is like a holiday. My kids are hooligans and very naughty just the way I want them. So the party never stops at the Ahluwalia household.
Kumkum Bhagya has brought Shabir Ahluwalia so much love and recognition that the show's lead Abhi has no desire to quit it
Actor Shabir Ahluwalia's popularity is at an all-time high courtesy his role as Abhishek Abhi' Mehra in the show Kumkum Bhagya. The daily show is topping the charts consistently week after week. In an exclusive interview with indianexpress.com, Shabir " who plays the show's male lead Abhi " tells us what it means to be loved by the masses.
How does it feel when you see Kumkum Bhagya topping the charts time and again?
It feels good when you show is appreciated and loved. It's all thanks to our viewers and fans. It feels good when your performance is reciprocated with so much love.
When you signed the project, did you ever imagine that the show would touch such high ratings?
As an actor, when you take a project you hope that it does really well. You put the best foot forward. We worked really hard as a team and it feels good when your efforts pay off.
What do you think has worked in the show's favour and touched the audience's pulse?
There is no one thing that I can pinpoint. It's a collective effort of everyone. Right from those behind the camera to the ones in front of it, it's a team effort. Speaking about what may have connected with the audience, I think it is the story they have been able to identify with. Sometimes a story just clicks.
Your pairing with Sriti Jha has been much appreciated. What is the reason behind the chemistry?
We just have fun on sets and that comes on screen. If you were to see the outtakes of the show, you will see that we are having fun. You have to enjoy what you do.
How is Sriti as an actress?
Sriti is fantastic. She is really talented, committed and a great co-star to work with.
What keeps you going as an actor?
It is the love of our viewers. Your talent and hard work can take you ahead for some time. It can't keep driving or motivating forever if you don't get love from the audience. The moment you see that the show and your performance are being well-received and talked about, it motivates you to work harder.
Will you ever reach a saturation point?
I don't think I will ever reach a saturation point with acting. Yes, every creative process gets exhausting but you do need your time off and take a break. You got to relax and make sure you give yourself enough time so that anything you do doesn't frustrate you. Also, you should never end up doing anything just for the sake of doing it. Do it because you love doing it.
Why don't we see you much in Bollywood?
First of all, because I have been tied up with Kumkum. There have been certain projects that came my way but taking that up would have meant leaving Kumkum Bhagya. And the kind of love that I am getting from viewers and fans, I don't think now is the right time and the kind of offers that came my way weren't something that I wanted to do. Television is a great medium to reach out to your fans on an everyday basis. People work very hard to get this love and adulation. So I don't want to leave this show while I am getting all that. When something good comes up, I can do it. I don't want to leave one thing for the another. TV is extremely big as a medium and it shouldn't be taken for granted. I will do films but I will not do any film. It should be worth the wait.
So lead is what you are looking for?
It can be anything. It should be something that should excite the actor inside me. Till the time I am not excited about the role, how will I excite the audience? I feel the audience should take back home something after watching a performance.
Is Bollywood open to taking successful television actors into films today?
It's about what is viable. It is about what project suits which actor. Some project could work well with a movie actor and some with a TV actor. Because an actor is ultimately an actor and it depends on what capacity you are using him in your project. If the storytelling is right, the image of the actor doesn't matter. It's about how well you tell your story with the actors you have in your story. And it is eventually a director's vision How he sees his project. It's got nothing to do with the actors. I don't see any difference between a film actor and television actor. An actor is an actor regardless of the medium involved.
What are your future plans?
No more kids as of now (laughs). I am taking things as they come. I don't plan long. I enjoy my life and work hard.
Do you still take your wife (Kanchi Kaul) out on dates?
Oh yes. That has to happen. I really enjoy doing that. As an actor, you have to manage that. We go out on holidays and even when I am at home, it is like a holiday. My kids are hooligans and very naughty just the way I want them. So the party never stops at the Ahluwalia household.
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