Back with renewed intensity

POPULAR ACTOR NAKUUL MEHTA GETS ROMANTIC ON HIS RETURN

by ASJAD NAZIR

FANS have been waiting for small screen superstar Nakuul Mehta to return to television ever since his smash-hit drama Ishqbaaaz ended and he obliged them with newly released web series Never Kiss Your Best Friend.

The award-winning actor plays the lead role in the 10-episode adaptation of a best-selling book, which was shot at various locations across London.

He stars opposite Anya Singh in the ZEE5 serial set across two different time periods, which revolves around two best friends and life challenges that affect the strong bond they have.

The romantic serial adds to an impressive body of work done by the popular Indian actor, and he was in good spirits when Eastern Eye caught up with him to find out more.

What was the best thing about taking a break after Ishqbaaaz ended?

I have always felt that it’s extremely important for actors to constantly reinvent, learn and evolve. Ishqbaaaz was a phenomenal experience for me. It was on air for nearly three years and I felt that by the end of it as an artist, I was spent, and it was important that I went back, took time off, lived a bit and came back with new energy – also give audiences enough time to breathe and want to see me instead of coming back straight away.

What did you do during the break?

The best part was that I could do a lot of travelling, which is one of my passions. I did 12 trips last year. I did a theatre residential programme and learned a lot. I worked on a short film with Anurag Kashyap and hosted a show with some of my favourite cricketers. I did things that I thought really helped me evolve. I had fun and worked with new creators.

What did you like about Never Kiss Your Best Friend?

I have been looking at digital content for a while now. In 2016, when the web had not exploded like it has in India now, I had produced, written and acted in my first web show I Don’t Watch TV. After that, I started shooting for Ishqbaaaz, so when Never Kiss Your Best Friend came to me my first reaction was, another love story. But when I read it, I realised the vibe of the show is different from any other romantic show I could have done. It is extremely relatable, talks your language and is real, which got me thinking that is the kind of content I have wanted to do.

Tell us about the story and character you play?

The character I play is Sumer Singh Dhillon. He is a regular college kid, who has issues such as dealing with the expectations of society, parents and oneself. His best friend is Tanie Brar. It’s about how they support each other through life’s ups and downs, including different relationships, until their own relationship goes through a crack. It’s set between two time lines, including in the present when they meet years later, how life is awkward and how they deal with it. How friendship plays a part in either bringing them together or not.

How does this web series compare to the book?

The fact that it is based on a book which is a bestseller and read by so many people gives me confidence that already people have enjoyed the story. It has been taken from the book, but adapted for a series so a lot of things are the same and a lot of things have been changed.

What was the greatest challenge of playing this character?

Sometimes when you are playing a young character, I feel it is important to get the vibe and that to me was a real challenge. Also, shooting in a city like London helped. It is such a happy place during Christmas. It’s an artsy place and an open, liberal society. I think all of that really adds to the vibe of the show.

Do you have a favourite moment in the web series?

Well, there are lots. We shot for about 40 days all across London. It was absolutely beautiful. There were a couple of songs we shot that were gorgeous. There was one song where we were shooting the soccer portion. (Laughs) It was just a lot of young kids on the soccer field and none of them listening to the director, which was fun.

Do you have any memories from the shooting of the web series?

Anya (Singh) and I were at Somerset House and supposed to shoot a skating scene, but it got cancelled. The crew left and we were also asked to leave, but we were so engrossed, we chose to not hear them and continued skating, which was an enjoyable experience for us.

It seems like a story most will relate to. Did you?

One hundred per cent. In fact, the show has just dropped on ZEE5 and 99 per cent of messages I have been receiving are about how relatable it is. Anyone who has had a best friend growing up would relate to it. I think, in a sense, it is the DNA of the show.

What was the experience of shooting for it in the UK?

It was incredible. London is one of my favourite cities in the world. Every other time it is work or tourism, but this time to be there for an extended period of time was wonderful. Also, with a rom-com, there is no better time than Christmas, to add credence and spirit into it.

How does working in a web series compare to a TV serial that has many more episodes?

The last two serials I have done were Ishqbaaaz and Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara. One was more than 750 episodes and the other was more than 650 episodes, but Never Kiss Your Best Friend is just 10. After a point, fatigue sets in when you are doing television. It is impossible to maintain that level of consistency in that level of work; human minds are not made for that. Also, as artists, you cannot have such regimented routines, hence I feel with working on a web show you are going at the same intensity, but for shorter spurts of time. I felt that I could add far more value, and continue to feel refreshed while doing it.

What is the plan going forward?

The plan is to not give into the comfortable and not doing what people will tell you is something you must do, so the plan is to have no plan. The plan is to find new roles and challenging opportunities, and evolve.

Today, what inspires you as an actor?

I look at myself not just as an actor on set, but as a co-creator and collaborator. Recently, Tom Hanks had made that speech about three things an actor must do, which is learn your lines, be on time and come with a bag full of ideas. It is a philosophy I have had always – that if I am on set, I am not there to just deliver lines, but I am also there to help the director, writer and cameraman do the scenes in the best possible way.

Tell us more…

It might mean working with junior artists on set and trying to get their act right. It might also mean adding to the writing process, helping co-actors or choreographing, taking care of action sequences, being part of the process and not just working out of the actor’s hat; that inspires me – the entire process to building a scene.

Why should we all tune into Never Kiss Your Best Friend?

It’s a fun show. With all the violence, sex, action there is on the web and TV, this is a show which is relatable, speaks your language and is an easy breezy watch.

Never Kiss Your Best Friend is available now on www.zee5.