Mohit Malhotra: I'm excited!
MTV Splitsvilla's lover boy Mohit Malhotra will be seen playing Birju on Mitwa Phool Kamal Ke(STAR Plus) which premieres today. We caught up with Mohit, who talked about his background, his shows and his opinion on realities.
Tell us about your journey from Splitsvilla to Mitwa Phool Kamal Ke?
It has been very nice; people have accepted me in the industry. So the journey is not over, and hopefully people will accept this new character I am playing. I am looking forward to the show. I went for the audition, they liked my performance and thought I was perfect for the role. That's how I got selected.
Were you always interested in acting?
I always wanted to become an actor and I feel blessed to have got the opportunity to be part of the Star parivaar. I am excited about the show and hope that people appreciate me as an actor."
Do you think reality shows are a ticket to an acting career?
I am not sure about that. Unless you have it in you, you cannot become an actor because, at the end of the day, you have to be able to perform. So if you have the talent, you deserve to be in the industry, whether you were part of a reality show or not.
Do you think people will accept you as Birju?
Well, like Birju, I was a sweet lover boy in Splitsvilla too. I just feel blessed that I have got the opportunity to perform. I took up this show as a challenge and I hope people like me.
Shooting for daily soaps are hectic, how are you managing?
It is going to be a learning experience. Reality shows are a different experience and this too is different. I take everything as a chance to learn and I am sure that I have a lot of learning in store for me.
How did you groom yourself?
I have been talking to my servants and auto wallas to pick up the accent. We also had an acting workshop on how to portray our characters and speak the language.
Tell us about your look on the show.
My character is from the village and he belongs to a lower caste, so the look is very simple. I wear mostly kurta pyjama.
Tell us about your character.
Birju belongs to a lower caste and has had a lot of trouble while growing up. He is very raw guy and his village has had a great impact on his character. Birju has problems that lower caste people face. The story takes a turn when he falls in love with Bela, an upper caste girl.
What is the real Mohit like?
I am a travel buff like any youngster and I like doing exciting things. I read lots of biographies. I am a big follower of Donald Trump. I want to peruse acting and be the finest actor ever. Everyone has their own priorities and I have seen very young people play leads on shows but I chose to finish my education. I did my B.Com and then enrolled for theatre workshops. After that, Splitsvilla happened. I have an elder brother; my dad is a businessman and my mom is a housewife. My brother, Himanshu Malhotra, is into acting and he has starred in one film and is working on a second one. I currently stay with him here in Mumbai.
Do you think that Indian audiences are prepared for bold shows such as Splitsvilla?
Every show or channel focuses on different segments of the audience. MTV focuses on the youth. To some extent, people are influenced by Western culture and that is why reality shows on VH1 are so popular. So, the youth accepts these shows.
What did your parents think about your appearance on Splitsvilla?
They have always been supportive and helpful. And they were the same when it came to me featuring in Splitsvilla. They were happy that I got a show; it was a positive reaction.
What do you have to say about your tiff with Siddharth?
I would not like to comment on it. It was a show and these things happen. We have differences but we are friends. Friends also fight sometimes.
Are you dating Joanna?
I would not like to comment on this as well.
What shows do you like watching on TV?
I have been watching Balika Vadhu; it is a good show. I like Real World on VH1 as well.
Would you do another reality show?
I do not know. I have already had that experience. I might want to do it if something good comes up. There are a couple of new concepts so there might be some good reality series emerging.
| Sonali Joshi/Hill Road Media | Wednesday, May 27, 2009 |
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