Gaurav Sharma: Stepping into a hit show

IT IS no surprise that Gaurav Sharma agreed to take over the role of Paritosh Shah in Anupamaa after previous actor Ashish Mehrotra left.

Apart from the super hit drama serial being India’s top rated TV show in recent years, it gave him the chance to take on the new challenge of making a character played by someone else his own.

Early indications are that the versatile actor is succeeding because he has been embraced by audiences. It adds to his top TV credits that includes iconic series Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.

Eastern Eye caught up with the talented TV star to find out more.

How do you feel about joining hit drama serial Anupamaa?  

It is Indian television’s number one show. The fan following this show currently has is crazy. I feel really blessed to now be a part of it and only have gratitude in my heart.

Sharma with Rupali Ganguly.

What is it like taking over a character someone else has played? 

It was a little challenging to put myself in someone else’s shoes as I have never replaced any actor in any show before. But my directors and creative team helped me a lot in understanding and getting to know the character. I am trying not to copy the earlier actor, but to get the nuances right and behave like Toshu, the character.

Have you been influenced by the previous performance in any way?  

Not really. I believe in thoroughly studying the material that I am given. With the right character brief and desired look, I try and be as authentic as possible.

 What can we expect from your character?  

You can expect authenticity and a lot of spice in the story. (You will have to tune in to find out more).

Why do you think the show is so popular? 

It has all the masala our Indian audience needs. It showcases the moral values and challenges every woman faces. The entire creative team does a great job.

What do you most like about Rajan and Deepa Shahi as producers?  

They treat everyone as their family member and give everyone equal respect. This creates such a great working environment.

What is it like working with actress Rupali Ganguly?

It is superb working with her. She’s a seasoned actress and very humble in nature. We bonded quite fast! She really is a wonderful actress and knows what she’s doing. That comes across on screen.

What inspires you? 

The love I have been getting from the audience really inspires me a lot. That’s like a pat on my back and what all the actors love.

Why should we all tune into Anupamaa?

To see some great performances and an outstanding emotional roller-coaster ride.