Delhi boy KRISHNA KAUL, who struggled all the way to Mumbai, tells MUSBA HASHMI about his role in Kumkum Bhagya, how he got there and challenges ahead

• How did Kumkum Bhagya happen?

It was pure luck. I had no clue that it is going to be happen. I gave an audition for Balaji Productions and then I went on for Roadies Real Heroes. One day I got a message saying ‘Will you be interested in Kumkum Bhagya’ and that time I couldn’t respond because I was already a part of the Roadies journey.

Fortunately or unfortunately I got eliminated from Roadies. Then, I responded to the message and my timing was just right. They told me that they were just about to cast someone else for the role because they thought that I was doing Roadies and it would take time. But my rejection came at the right time, I suppose. This is how I got the show.

• Tell us about your character.

I play Ranbir. A young college goer. He is a charming, confident and has attitude. He has got a lot of energy around him. He is good at almost everything and that gives him an edge over others. He is not a love them leave them kind of a person but enjoys healthy flirting.

• What all preparations did you do to become an actor?

I always wanted to be an actor. I used to take part in all of my school plays. When I was in Class XII, I started doing ads. During my college, I joined a theatre group — Shri Ram in Delhi. I did it for a couple of months. Then, after my college, I shifted to Mumbai and I started giving auditions everywhere. I got selected for a webseries —Puncch Beat and that is how it all began.

• How supportive were your parents?

My parents wanted me to become an engineer. When I told them that I want to be an actor they thought that I was drunk. (laughs). They never thought that there is a profession in acting for normal people. But they never forced me to do anything. They were sceptical about acting as a career, like any other parent. It is obvious for them to be anxious about me and my career. Because acting is not a secure field when it comes to your future.

• What challenges did you face?

When you are in college you feel you are the best. But it is like you are just andhon mein kaana raja. The moment you step out of that world and come to Mumbai you realise that you are not the only one. Noida mein jaisey Krishna hai toh Mumbai mein aesey hazaron Krishna hain. Then, you realise where do you stand and what this realisation does to you, depends on you. Whether you decide to work harder or get demotivated and give up. This is the time when you need to join the dots and find out where are you lacking. Once you start understanding where are you lacking, then you need to start working on it. In Mumbai, there is a lot of competition and people are very hardworking and good at their job.

Second, you should be open to rejections. I have been rejected so many times. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki arey ismey toh selection ho jayega ismey toh mere jaisa hi character chahaiye par aisa nahin hota hai. You will go for an audition and give your best, but they will not even call you back. So, I made up mind to be ready to face rejections. You need to make sure that you give an audition and forget about it. Don’t wait for it, if it has to happen, it will happen and if not, then it’s not just meant to happen. Third, you can’t relax. Life is fast-paced here, if you stop even for a second, there are hundred others who are waiting for that role. The struggle is constant and it does not end. Even if you have got a role then you have to struggle to understand the character.

• Did you ever think of quitting?

Yes, there was a time when in a month I got rejected many times. I thought of giving up because nothing was cracking and nothing was working out for me. But then I got selected to play a negative lead in Puncch Beat and then I realised that there is some potential in me.

• As a newcomer, do you have to work harder to prove yourself?

Yes. I have to work hard because I am sharing the screen with people who are much more experienced than me — Sriti Jha and Shabir Ahluwalia. But, they are very welcoming and very supporting. They won’t make you feel uncomfortable or nervous. On day one of my shoot, they made me so comfortable — that whatever I was doing is good. They create a very positive and pleasant environment for me which helps a lot.

• How were your two shows different?

Both Puncch Beat and Roadies Real Heroes, were very different and meant for a particular set of audience. But, now I have got a wider audience. People who watch TV are very attached to  the show and the character they like. I have the responsibility that people who watch Ranbir like him. They have to feel connected to him. It puts me into a situation, where I have to understand the character even more and learn how to portray him correctly.

• Who has been your inspiration?

When I grew up, I realised that there is so much nepotism in the industry and it is hard for a normal boy like me to make a place for myself. During this time, I got inspired by Shah Rukh Khan.

I realised that this boy was also from Delhi. He also had a dream, he also had no one in the industry to look after him and eventually he went there, struggled and today he has reached where he wanted to be. This inspired me a lot. I thought may be there are fewer chances for me to get into the industry but there are chances and I can try my luck.