Model-turned-actor NAMIT KHANNA talks to SANGEETA YADAV about working on his debut TV show Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai

Tell us about your role in Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai.

I play Siddhant Sinha, a lawyer with quirky attitude. He hails from a middle-class family and his purpose in life is to make money though he hates people who show. He spends like water. He tries to prove a point in everything he does. He is emotional and cares for his family. There are different layers of relationships with different people that unfold as the story moves forward.

There is also a love angle between Siddhant and Anushka Reddy…

They shared a great bond in childhood but got separated as Anushka, the daughter of the biggest business tycoon, goes abroad for further studies. Even though she goes far away, he remembers her fondly and how they used to race together. She used to beat him in the race and he, after so many years, keeps practicing and aspires to break her record. It will be interesting to see what happens when they reunite. It’s not the conventional love story with writing a love letter or singing song. It is today's story with a realistic approach, something that will remind you of your times.

Was it difficult to get into the shoe of the characterIJ

Since past one year, I’ve been watching a lot of Netflix and most of them were related to court drama. Moreover, the first time in my life, I actually went through a legal property matter and that made me understand the basics of the legal practices and jargons.  I know the whole demeanour of lawyers, they would first listen to you completely and calms you down by saying something. I observed all that but I never thought that I will come to use in this show. All this prepared me for this show subconsciously. I feel whatever happened in those eight months, happened for a reason.

nWhat was the legal matterIJ

I had spent all my hard earned money in buying my first flat in Mumbai. It was a ready flat and I was promised to get the possession after a month. I took a loan and made a huge payment but the property dealers started pestering me to pay rest 80 per cent of the money as well. Moreover, since I had left the rented accommodation, I had no place to stay and had to get another accommodation. After consulting the advocate, I got to know that a lot of important information was missing from the deal. Though I got my money back, I also gave me a good learning.

Did you always want to be an actorIJ

I never planned to be an actor. I left my advertising job and shifted my base to Mumbai to take modelling career to the next level. I did many commercials and fashion shows and got associated with Sabyasachi. It was during past few years I signed my first film Bang Bang Bangkok but it didn’t see the light of the day due to conflict with the producer and director. Then I worked on a web series — Twisted which got a lot of good response.

Have you settled down in actingIJ

Yes, I have now but initially, it was tough. Sometimes you work for 20 hours and you are emotionally exhausted. We are sitting and sleeping. I don’t like the waiting period. I ask the director for the scenes so that I can work constructively. In modeling, you get work out of your appearance but in acting, there is not just appearance but we have to showcase acting skill as well. I have worked towards my skill and still working on it. Moreover, I feel that the process to ask if the actor is ready for the scene or not is not there. We too take time to sink into the character. The pressure to give an ‘okay’ shot in one go is daunting but we have to overcome it.

How was your experience working with SabyasachiIJ

It was a delightful experience. I have worked with Sabya for over 10 years now and he is the most professional person I have ever worked with. He will literally spoil you for choices and keep you happy by taking care of every big or small thing. All his work is itself an art and we feel good to be a part of it. He will hire the best in the business and is one of the best paymasters in the industry. If the work is for two days, he gives one extra day so that we can have our own time and do what we want to do. Who would not want to work with himIJ