PARAM SINGH, who plays Ahaan Veer Malhotra in SET’s latest offering Ishq Par Zor Nahi, tells MUSBA HASHMI about his character, how Sadda Haq became a hit and that he doesn’t believe in calling people to ask for work

What is your role about?

I play Ahaan Veer Malhotra, a businessman. He is modern in his outlook, but from the inside he is still old school. He is a family man and lives in a joint family. He wants to settle and get married to a girl who is a homemaker. He believes that women are supposed to stay back home and run the house and that a man’s job is to go out and earn a living. The reason why he is like that will be revealed in the story gradually.

Will the character’s mindset ever change?

That depends on the writing. However, I am positive it will, but when, where and how that will be revealed later. To add to what I had said before, he isn’t a negative person, it’s just that he has a different mindset and believes it to be right. He is good person otherwise.

What made you come on board the project?

My last show got over in February, last year. I was initially planning to take a sabbatical from TV. Then COVID happened and the break got extended. In June, I was offered Namak Issaq Ka, which is still on air and right after that I got Ahaan. SET is known for its unique and progressive shows and I wanted to work with them. Having said that, Ahaan is not modern, but the reason that I haven’t played such a character before made me take up the role. It was like a challenge for me because I am not like the character in any way.

Sadda Haq was a hit. How did the show happen with you?

I did an advertisement for Channel V. The team saw me there and I was offered the show. Back then, I didn’t have an idea that the show will be such a rage. It ran for two and a half years and became the No 1 show. And I can only be grateful for that. Whatever I am today, I owe it to that show. After that I did many shows, some of them resonated with the audience while others not, but my goal and approach was to work with full honesty without thinking about the results. That is what all actors do. There are times when things just don’t work out in this field, it is a part and parcel of acting. Had it not been that, every actor and every production house would have been Number 1. Hence, it is a trial and error business. You have think from your heart and go for it. But for Ishk Par Zor Nahi, I am hopeful that the audience will love it.

What did you take back home from the sets?

I have spent 1000 days on the sets. There is so much that I learnt. My foundation was built there, though I have done acting courses and theatre as well, but that show taught me the little nuances of playing a character. Acting is a kind of job where you not only give something, but also take back things. You learn to be honest in front of the camera. You have the freedom to show what you feel, while in real life one always hold himself back thinking of the repercussions. Above all, I have learnt to be hardworking, creative, honest and how is it like to work in a healthy and happy atmosphere.

How did acting happen?

I was an introvert throughout my childhood and acting was never on cards so to say. When I was eight, I started listening to Jagjit Singh’s ghazals. I watched Casablanca when I was nine. I was mesmerized by it. But I was too shy to talk about it. When I grew up, I started taking part in college plays and got good feedback from people. But I always thought that if you want to be an actor, you have to love acting and not just take it up because of the name and fame. I went to London to pursue MBA and came back only to become an actor. I took professional training, worked in ads and that’s how it all started. Now, I can say that I love my job.

How easy or difficult was it to enter the field?

I have been lucky that things were easy for me. I was born and brought up in Mumbai. I have given 50 auditions. I don’t have struggle stories to tell. I loved acting and had the passion for it. This can be one of the reasons why things went smoothly. There is no rocket science behind this, I just took the opportunities I got and worked with honesty. Apart from that I don’t have any approach. I don’t know how to call people and ask for work, I haven’t done it. I worked and got work.