'Delhi is special, I found my first job and girlfriend here'

Straight Talk

Despite being a trained actor, Pravesh Rana has been shying away from working in daily soaps. Mr India 2008 winner and a model, Pravesh has preferred hosting only reality TV shows.

“I am not too fond of fiction shows as I feel they compromise on creativity.

I don’t like the way stories shape up, the way the actors change and I think the fiction television is driven by factors other than creativity,” says Pravesh, who shot to fame and became household name with Emotional Atyachaar and Bigg Boss.

He doesn’t watch many TV shows either, finding that their content is sensationalised to draw ratings. “I am not fond of most of them but my mother likes quite a few of them.

There are a few good shows but they don’t last that long; they are run by other commercial factors,” believes Pravesh, who is set to play a host of another show Live Out Loud – It’s Now or Never. The show is about speaking your heart out and expressing yourself.

He may not have been part of fiction television as an actor but sure has a lot of advice on that front. “I feel a fiction show should be driven by its story and the performances of its actors. However, the trend is to sensationalise content.” he says.

Though a student of Economics, Pravesh was always drawn to entertainment. He began by participating in college festivals.

“I decided to pursue my interest in the entertainment sector. My friends encouraged me to pursue my interest. That is how things moved forward,” says 28-year-old Pravesh.

Pravesh recalls his days in Ramjas College very fondly. He was always engrossed in sports and extra curricular activities. “I used to play basket ball for my college; was an Economics student; and a hosteller, so I loved my college days as they were full of excitement.

Things changed and one got serious in final year. Actually, that is when you actually know yourself, your strengths and you come out of the shadow of your parents,” remembers Pravesh, who is a fine mimic too.

Originally from Meerut, Pravesh has special memories attached to Delhi. “I was a teenager when I came here; I got my first job and found my first girlfriend here. Delhi is very special to me.

The only thing I don’t like about the city is its increase in crime against women because of which it has got a bad name and that needs to change,” he shares.

Pravesh has done around 450 stage shows as an anchor in India and abroad and considers his participation in Big Boss has been a significant move in his career.

“It’s a platform where the whole country watches you, even though you don’t have to use your skills and you just have to be yourself.

People know you personally and when you come out of the show, they know you as a person and like you for who you are,” he says.

Ask if he is looking forward to work in Bollywood film, he says “yes,” without divulging details