'I wanted to be famous'

Raaghav Chanana has no qualms admitting that he wanted to be a famous actor when he joined the industry around a decade ago. But the M Cream actor says the aim was not to attain “materialistic satisfaction”, but to be able to do something “meaningful”.

“People usually listen when a popular person or celebrity associates himself with a cause because they have the power and magnetism to attract people. For instance, the way Aamir Khan initiated discourse on social evils and taboo subjects in Satyamev Jayate proved that celebrities wield greater power,” the Delhi-born actor tells Metrolife.

“And I had thought being famous would be my key to achieve that. This is why I wanted to be famous,” he adds.

But fate had other plans for Chanana as his film career failed to take off. When he was offered a role in a prominent film, the producer decided to shelve the project because of the financial crisis of 2007-2008. This was, arguably, one of the worst phases of his life. But, he says, this period gave him the life’s biggest lesson — to be strong and patient. “There was a time when I had packed my bags and came back to Delhi. I had stopped caring about acting. And this was when I got a call for a role in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and I accepted it with an open heart,” he admits, saying earlier he was selective about his films, and had refused several offers because he was waiting for the ‘right’ role.

Chanana, who essays the role of Prithvi Singhania in TV series 24, says that he has no regrets in life. “Through my journeys I have had different experiences, so I won't say I have made any wrong choices,” he adds.

The 33-year-old has also acted in several plays and says that working on stage is different from films. “There are many restrictions when you are shooting for TV and films as you have to constantly watch out for lights and other things. But on stage, you have to forget everything else and just perform. This is why I believe that stage nurtures the truest form of acting,” he says.

“The kind of high you get when you are on the stage is exhilarating,” he adds.