TV needs more genuine shows: Arjun Bijlani

Arjun Bijlani,who essays the character of 'Mayank' in 'Mile Jab Hum Tum' on Star One, gets candid on his role and more. Read on…

My role
The show is all about college life and two love stories. My character is that of a guy who always tops in academics. He believes in working hard to achieve everything as his mom is a working woman and he knows it is the hard way out to get things done. He is not a typical college guy; he hardly has any friends and does not flirt around with girls. He also doesn't have the time for love, but eventually finds his girl and falls in love. And due to this, there are several fights that adds to the youthful-college drama.

I got it...
The channel had contacted me earlier, but I could not give them dates then. But the show got postponed for some reason and the dates were suitable to me. But there was a thought process before giving my consent for the show and I did because things worked for me.

The challenging bit…
The role seemed different from what I had done previously. Unlike the angry young man that I played in 'Left Right Left', I play a very sophisticated guy in 'Mile Jab Hum Tum'. The story is youthful and I see a lot of freshness in it. The challenge is to show the right energy and the required body language. It is important look like a college guy and to show the best of your abilities.

I took it up…
It was mainly because it is a youthful show. There are hardly any youthful shows on television.

Preparations for the role…
Nothing really is required to prepare for the character. But of course I am working on having the right feel. It is important for an actor to give the best and keep the mind working on improvisation.

Roles I like…
I always like playing my age. I wish there was a choice to be youthful forever.
I enjoy playing different roles and it depends on what the future holds for me.

The balancing act between personal and professional life…
I don't shoot for more than twelve hours a day. I sleep eight hours and the rest of the time goes for my other personal activities. I am quite an organized person and a perfectionist too. I get into details which irritate most others; but for me I need to be convinced and it is important that at the end of day I give a good performance.

In my spare time…
I watch movies, play games, and go for long drives in the city outskirts. I am more of an outdoor person but I prefer partying at home.

If not an actor, I would be....
A businessman! I had planned well about my career but destiny got me to this world which I enjoy very much. I love the glamour, love, fame, money and the creativity here.

Small screen vis--vis big screen…
Big screen is a big medium. Small screen is small and is easily available to everybody whereas one has to go to the theatre to watch movies. Nowadays TV actors are doing movies. TV goes on for years and is draggy. I personally have the passion for movies because of the creativity that an actor gets exposed to.

Daily soaps vis--vis reality shows…
Both are too much of drama. In the daily soaps the characters are part of the drama and in reality shows all of them are involved in the drama. TV needs more genuine shows. Of course, I don't deny that there is no reality in reality shows but if there is a good format, I would like to be a part of reality shows. I will make sure that I do not get into any controversy, because we as actors need our space and privacy which everyone should respect.

On TV, I watch…
I mostly watch English movies, 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' and dance shows. I really don't appreciate shows where people fight on-screen.

Other projects…
My focus is on 'Mile Jab Hum Tum' as of now and I want to give my fullest to it. May be I will think of some interesting projects in the near future.