"It just feels awesome to know that Jagya' has become one of the most popular household names now" - Shashank Vyas
Television actor Shashank Vyas, better known as the very popular Jagya', from Colors longest running show Balika Vadhu, gets candid with urlremoved about his experiences on the show and lots more!
Tell us about yourself?
Well, I am a very simple and hardworking guy from a small town in Madhya Pradesh, who came down to the city of Mumbai 4 years ago, to accomplish my desire of becoming an actor.
What made you chose a career in acting
I used to participate in a lot of dramas and plays back in school as well as college, but never really thought of becoming an actor, till the day I never managed to actually get into any good MBA course! So then after that, I decided to put whatever good acting skills I had to use, and become an actor somehow!
How had the show Balika Vadhu come to you?
So when I came to Mumbai in 2009, I ended up giving around 250 auditions for various projects that year following till the next, and one of them was for the show Balika Vadhu, which I had actually forgotten about, till the team called me and asked me to come give look tests and costume trials. That's when I realized I had been selected as Jagya on the show, and now here I am!
What challenges have you had to face in your acting career?
Everyday in this industry and profession has been a challenge for me, and will always be. Shooting for 14-15 hours a day, living up to the expectations of the audiences, relating well to your characters, co-stars, team and ofcourse the numerous compromises one has to make in regard with their personal life. But I guess, every challenge has something to learn from!
Jagya has become one of the most popular faces on TV now so how does that feel? And how do you relate with your character?
It just feels awesome to know that Jagya' has become one of the most popular household names now, but somehow, I can never really comment on how I relate to Jagya' so there is nothing I will say on that. But yes it feels great that in a show based mostly on a girl named Anandi', the character of Jagya too has been able to create a good space, name and fame for himself, which just feels great! I have been playing the character of Jagya for more than 3 years now, but haven't ever got bored of it, which I feel is something commendable. I mean at the end of the day, even if it is all about money, an artist, somewhere down the line, doesn't only always look at the money part, but also looks at how well his character is doing as well as the fame and recognition the character is receiving and that is what motivates the artist to do much better! So yes, the appreciation Jagya' has received over the years has really motivated and inspired me to get into my character, and just give in my best!
What is your rapport like with the cast and crew of Balika Vadhu?
It's been more than 3 years now since nearly all of us have been shooting together, so I happen to share a different kind of rapport with each member of the cast. So, Siddharth, Toral, Roop as well as Pratyusha and Gauri who were with us till a while ago, are all nearly the same age, so we do have our fun and masti on the sets going on, hang out sometimes together and just share a very chilled out as well as nice rapport. Coming to Surekha Ji, she is very senior as well as one of the most experienced actor from us all, so I do tend to maintain some distance from her, but she is a very nice person. Smita is like a family member who loves to take care of me and brings me lunch or dinner everyday! Anoop Ji and I share a very professional relationship, and I always take advice from him on how I could get better, as he too is a very good as well as experienced actor. Satyajit Ji who plays my Tau Sa on the show, is someone with whom I always get into very philosophical talks, as he is a learned man. So yes, overall we all do share a good rapport with each other, as it is necessary to have one, because only if you gel well off screen will you gel well on screen, and if you don't it can be very visible to the viewers.
Any fun moments on set you would like to share with us?
Well, Anoop Ji, Smita and I sit together everyday during lunch and dinner, and on the side, make up our own version of what we think should happen in Balika Vadhu instead of what is currently happening, as well as try and figure out how the fans and audience would react to this and react to that, which is just great fun! Other than that, we do have our share our cake cutting celebrations, festival celebrations and lots more, which is good fun. Also, our director keeps joking around with me everyday, saying that when I want to get married in real life someday, no girl will end up marrying me, because on the show I am with so many ladies! So yes,on set, we all do have our share of good fun times.
Pratyusha Bannerjee who played Anandi initially had really managed to pull off the character very well, so what was your reaction as well as the team's, on her decision to quit?
Well, yes it was a big blow to us on hearing Pratyusha's decision to quit, as she had really managed to pull of Anandi's character very very well, as well as had gained a huge fan base, so I was very shocked infact and so was the team of course! She was my very first heroine I worked with, and we had done pretty well together as Jagya and Anandi, but she quit due to some personal reasons, and even though it did affect me somewhere down the line, I still do respect her decision.
What is your rapport like with Toral Rasputra who is Anandi now, and what do you think of her as an actor and a person?
As I said, Toral and I are nearly of the same age, so both of us along with the others, share a good, chilled out and nice rapport. As an actor, Toral has been great, and even though Anandi was all about Pratyusha being there, Toral has managed to bring out herself as Anandi very very well, and has really created a good space and name for herself! As a person, she is a very calm, composed and relaxed girl, who comes onto set, rehearses her lines, gives her shot, and moves on. Overall, she is a really nice girl and very very composed.
Any special fan moments on or off set which you will always remember?
I guess I have said this in every possible interview till date, and shall say it again now. This elderly man had come onto our set a long time ago, from Gujarat, and told me he had a dream about me being his son, and so wants to adopt me now! It was a very special and touching moment, but was also very heavy to digest. Other than that, a lot of people now recognize me well, and come up to my car when i am driving, or come up to me if I am walking down the road, and greet me as Jagya, which feels great!
Rapid Fire:
What is your typical day like?
Shoot from 9-9, come home, chat with my father and then head off to sleep.
Food you like to eat?
I love eating Rajma-Chaval, and any other home made food.
Favorite Bollywood Actor?
I am a huge fan of Amitabh Bachan!
Favorite Bollywood Actress?
Madhuri Dixit!
When is your birthday?
30th November.
What is your sun-sign?
I am a Sagitarius.
Finally, a message for all the fans who love you?
Becoming famous is incomplete without the love and support of those who watch you on screen, so I would really like to thank all my fans for having loved me and supporting me so much as Jagya, as they all have really been a big boon for me, and the show.
Writer:Rhea Parekh
