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A 'supernatural' take

Tele talk
Last Updated 24 September 2016, 18:38 IST

Arjun Bijlani is a name to be reckoned with in the tele world today. The handsome actor made a huge splash in Naagin — a show no one expected would become so successful.

Arjun’s career has seen him being cast in one successful series after another. He has starred in shows including Left Right Left, Miley Jab Hum Tum and Mohe Rang De. But after a lean phase, Naagin seems to have done the trick for him. His on screen chemistry with Mouni Roy and Adaa Khan continue to be talked about, and the show even earned top TRP ratings.

Apart from Naagin, Arjun was also seen in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Although he got voted out recently, his performance was a high point of the show. “I learnt a lot from the experience. I am a decent dancer, but I never learnt dance formally, and was unaware of the technicalities. I felt like a newcomer in the industry.”

Ask him about Naagin, and the young actor’s face lights up. “Initially, people were not convinced about the show. But I have always followed my instincts. What worked for the show is the way it was presented, and producer Ekta Kapoor knows the best way to do it. People loved my chemistry with Adaa and Mouni, which was an added bonus.”

Despite the stupendous success of the first season, Arjun is not part of the second season of Naagin. Is he disappointed? “Not really, because it’s a new story and I don’t fit into the equation.” But post Naagin, there is a trend of supernatural shows. At the same time, there is a section of audience and actors who don’t like this content. Speaking about this scenario, Arjun said, “Frankly, when Naagin was on air, it got a high TRP rating of six, which means a large number of audience were glued to the screen. Naagin was a supernatural show that experimented a lot with visual effects etc. The actors who have not liked Naagin would have reacted differently if they got a chance to be part of the show.”

Arjun’s impulsive streak has also led him to host shows. He hosted the IIFA Awards function in Spain this year, and had a fulfilling experience. “It was great fun. I was surrounded by superstars including Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone and others. I also had segments with stars like Tiger Shroff and Bhoomi Pendekar. Interviewing Salman was tough, but I managed with a smile on my face. Good hosting is all about perfect timing, wit and charm the host brings to the table. I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and I would definitely give it a shot again.”

With several web series coming into the picture, the TV audience seems to be shrinking gradually. So is Arjun interested in dabbling in web content? “I have not thought about it, but I haven’t ruled it out either. The content on television has changed a lot. I am an artiste, and if a role or show demands anything which I have not done on screen I will definitely do it for the betterment of the show.”

Arjun feels in his low phase, his passion for acting kept him going. “I have faith in my talent. If my show does not do well, that doesn’t mean I am not talented. I always knew that after bad times, good times will follow.”

Arjun will soon be seen in a new show titled Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil produced by Ekta Kapoor, also starring Laksh Lalwani and Drashti Dhami.

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(Published 24 September 2016, 15:24 IST)

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