Ashish Kapoor I am scared of ghosts...Article

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He had taken an acting course in Mumbai, but facing a live rolling camera is a different experience. A bunch of nerves in the initial days of his shoot did not trip him up and this lad learnt acting the real way: slowly and properly.

A homely person in real life, he is extremely attached to his mother and his pet dog. Quite close to his character, Kapoor too is scared of ghosts and is a complete prankster. Here's the actor in conversation about his character, show and future:

How did acting happen to you?

The acting bug bit me during my childhood. I used to participate in plays during my school and college and acting eventually became my hobby. My folks back in Delhi told me that I have the looks and must try my luck at acting. They all prompted me to take up acting as my profession. I believe it's always great to make your hobby your work!

How did you bag the character of Veer?

Like for any other character, I went through six auditions, followed by the look test and once I was signed, we started rolling in seven days time!

What attracted you to Sssshh.. Phir Koi Hai?

My character, Veer. This character has a variety of shades right from comedy to romance and now it has turned gray. I don't think I could have got a better launch-pad than this. During the life of this character, I have got an opportunity to showcase every possible facet of an actor.

You play a debauched hero. What bad habits do you personally have?

My character is justified on the show. I fall in love with Koena to realize that she has feelings for Ajinkya. I hold Ajinkya responsible for her death and think that he has killed her and hence the transformation of the character from positive to negative happens. Personally, I don't have any bad habits as such. I am just a little impatient and hyperactive. You can make me work for 22 hours at a stretch and my energy levels wouldn't drop a wee-bit!

Separated at birth, Veer has been fending for a life on his own, a life he hates to live, and holds his mother responsible for, as he believes she abandoned him after birth. What sort of a man can hate his own mother?

Veer had always thought that his mother had abandoned him for another man until Ajinkya cleared it for him. After that he had a change of heart and infact is helping Ajinkya, who is out in search of his mother.

Are you a homely person yourself?

I am a very homely person and I am extremely close to my mother. I am staying alone in Mumbai and at times feel homesick remembering them. I am the comic character of my family who brings a smile on their faces with my stupid jokes.

How do you get into the character?

I was so bad during the initial days of the shoot that I wanted to pack my bags and go back. I justify the changing phase of the character. Comedy comes easy to me and romance or love is something that happens to everyone. Turning negative was something that I had to think logically about. I know a normal man will feel the same if a third person enters in his love life.

What supernatural powers does Veer possess?

My character has the power that he can see ghosts while Ajinkya can only feel their presence. I help Ajinkya locate the ghosts. Otherwise the character is extremely fearful and scared of ghosts.

Are you a scared soul in real life too?

I fear ghosts, though I haven't experienced any untoward incident as yet. There is this actress who played a ghost in the episode titled as Chamba ki maa. Trust me, she still gives me sleepless nights as whenever I think about her, I get scared. I then engage myself with some or the other work or I watch television till I fall asleep.

Your character has a comic touch to it, which is quite rare on a horror thriller?

Yes, this is quite rare but the character comes as a relief to the viewers who are scared to bits by watching the ongoing horror drama. You generally see such characters on Sony/Sab and I consider myself to be fortunate enough to have got the opportunity to enact this role.

It is reportedly inspired by Salman Khan's character from the movie Saajan...

Yes, I was told that Veer is similar to Salman Khan from Saajan and Dharmendra from Sholay. I have seen both the movies, so I had a rough idea what the production house and the channel wanted from me. But I didn't want the two characters to influence my acting so I stuck to my natural self and just remembered the brief sketch of the two.

What kind of grooming did you go through for the character?

I couldn't undergo any kind of grooming as we commenced the shoot of the show within seven days of the finalizing of the cast. I just tried to be as original and convincing as I could infront of the camera.

How has it been working with established actors like Naman Shaw, Mouni Roy and Murli Sharma?

I really feel lucky to work with them. I got to learn a great deal from these actors and the show. All of them have been kind and humble to me.

What kind of rapport do you share with your co-actors behind the camera?

We have fun once the camera stops rolling. We play pranks and pull fast ones on our co-actors. Mandira (Anupriya Kapoor) gets scared very easily and we always tease and scare her with some or the other thing. I am very close to Naman as we have been together throughout the show. Rest all of them came and went but both of us have been there from episode one to the last. We even share the vanity van.

How has your experience on the show been and what have you learnt from it?

As an actor, the show has taught me a lot. I have become more confident when it comes to facing the camera. My dialogue delivery has also improved.

The show is soon going to conclude. What emotions are you going through?

The show has given me name and fame. I am going to miss my co-actors, who I used to hang out with on the sets. I used to harass my directors and co-actors asking them about the response my character is receiving and they always told me that the response is overwhelming. But I was still confused possibly because this was my first show.

What does the future hold for you?

I am busy giving look tests for a couple of projects and hoping something materializes soon.

Sssshh...Phir Koi Hai airs on STAR One every Saturday-Sunday, 9:30 PM