Shagun Pandey on his show Badho Bahu, his character Vardaan and much more!

Blessed with irresistibly charming looks and chiselled physique, actor Shagun Pandey is impossible not to fall in love with in his current television show, Badho Bahu, which has just clocked one year of its successful run on &TV. Pandey plays Vardaan Singh on the show, a differently abled guy. In an interview with Eastern Eye, the insanely attractive actor talks candidly about the success of his show, the response his character has been receiving from the audience, his inspiration and a lot more. Read interview excerpts below.

First of all, congratulations that your show Badho Bahu has completed one year of its successful run. How do you feel?

Thank you so much! It's unbelievable that it's been over a year. Time flies! It's been a lovely experience working on such a great show. The whole team is so amazing, the producers are lovely, and the production team is superb. Everyone and everything related to Badho Bahu is great.

How do you see your journey on the show?

The journey has been amazing with all the pampering and the warmth which I receive from the production and the channel &TV. I want to thank &TV, Vikas Gupta and Dipti Kalwani for believing in me. The journey has been really great with their support. They spotted me in Santoshi Maa, acknowledged my talent and potential and offered me a role which was so challenging. In Badho Bahu, I play lame and since the story is based in a Haryana village, I have a Haryanvi accent also. It was a challenge for me to portray Vardaan in the truest sense. I have been receiving a great response for my character.

Did you always want to become an actor?

My priority has always been to be an actor. Just as everyone wants to be a star, I want to be an actor first. But anyone who says that they want to be an actor, not a star, they're lying. Everybody wants to grow in their life and needs the appreciation for the same. I want to play a mainstream character which is challenging and needs special "homework" to be pulled off. Just like the one I am playing in Badho Bahu.

I had to figure out how Vardaan would walk as he is lame. I had to figure out what his accent would be; his expressions when he is not speaking. I have spent a lot of time inculcating Vardaan in me. I played Guddu in Santoshi Maa and he is very different from Vardaan. I love playing characters which are different from others and require some homework to be done on them. I wouldn't want to play a role where I am just mouthing my lines.

How is it to work with Prince Narula and Rytasha Rathore?

They are the best leads to ever work with! The female lead Rytasha Rathore is such a quick-witted person, and alert. She learns the craft quickly, she is amazing and she is good at whatever she does!

And Prince Narula, he is my brother. I am a fan of his work but more than that, I admire the human being he is! He is so nice and humble at this stage of his life where he can keep all the flamboyance but chooses to be the grounded! He is someone who has always stood by me and I will always be there for him.

How has been the audience’s response towards the show and your character?

First of all, I would again like to thank Vikas Gupta and Dipti Kalwani for casting me as Vardaan in this show. The audience's response has been great. The audience is loving the concept of Badho Bahu and showering the immense love on it. Vikas Gupta and Dipti Kalwani have come up with a great concept and a beautiful storyline and, along with the channel's support, the show has been amazing.

Badho Bahu is an achievement for me in the truest sense. The show has got an amazing response from the audience.  I couldn’t see any alternative cast other than this one. I'd like to salute the casting team for their job. All the characters are unique and I get to play the character of a decent guy who is high on ethics and moral values and he is the one who is specially abled. All the characters have been beautifully created by the team. I take this opportunity to thank everyone for appreciating the show and my character Vardaan. There are some parents who want to get their daughters married with Vardaan. This is surreal!

If you could play any other character on this show, who would it be?

First of all, all the characters in this show are so unique in their own ways. The characters have been assembled beautifully and the actors enhance the characters even more. I don't think anybody can replace Pankaj Dheer, Sangeeta Pawar, Geeta Uddeshi, Jaya Ojha, Kailash Tau Ji, Rytasha Rathore, Prince Narula, Arhaan, Antra, Navi, Mridul, Juhi Aslam and Aashima.  Everybody performs their part brilliantly. I don't think anybody could be replaced on Badho Bahu.

Will you quit Badho Bahu if a film is offered to you?

No! Why will I quit the show? The production team is lovely and I would say they are my family, so when other opportunities are offered, I would to go to the production house and let the producers know about the same. They would adjust as I have a bonding with the team and they are the ones who would support me in the growth of my career. Badho Bahu has given me a platform where a lot of people have acknowledged my work and this wouldn't have been possible otherwise. So yes with any upcoming opportunities, the production will oblige.

When you have a five-minute break during rehearsal, what do you spend that time doing?

The team, especially the female actors, is full of affection and warmth. With so much of pampering from Jaya ma'am, who feeds us with tea and snacks, regardless of being on a diet, I often have cheat meals and it happens all the time. Sangeeta Ji gets us amazing and delicious food items. We all sit together and share them. All of them are so full of affection and I look forward to working with them in the future projects as well. In the 5-10 minute rehearsal break, I am active on my social media accounts scrolling through my feeds and stories

In which area would you like to improve as an actor?

Honestly, when a person knows less, he has a much greater scope to learn. The more he already knows, the more he misses the little things. So, I have now started evaluating myself. I feel there is a long way ahead and I need to improve myself in every form - from life to acting. I want to learn how to live the characters because acting is portraying a fictional character on screen. So, I think I need to learn life in a greater aspect and be better in modulation and almost all the other wavelengths need to be improved. Mr Bachchan says that he is still learning, so you can imagine I have a long way to go.

If not an actor which other profession would you occupy?

If not an actor I would have been a struggling actor. I cannot think of a profession other than acting. I wouldn't want to reach the age of 35 and look back and regret not chasing my dreams. Anyway, in a parallel world, if not acting, I would have joined the aviation industry. I would be a pilot. I always had a thing for aviation. I would have wanted to work as a senior officer in an airport.

Who is your celebrity crush?

I have a thing for Kriti Sanon. Disha Patani is very beautiful and I find Ananya Birla very attractive and stunning. These are immensely beautiful and stunning ladies. Whenever I see them on screen, my jaw drops. I have celebrity male crush as well. He is the one and only, the lovable, the energetic, the dulara of Bollywood, Ranveer Singh.

What is your favourite movie?

All the Yash Raj movies have been my first love, from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi to Band Baaja Baarat, I think they make absolutely different kind of films from the other movies. Band Baaja Baaraat and RamLeela, although not a Yash Raj movie, are my personal favourites. I could watch them over and over again.

What is your biggest fear?

The biggest fear of my life is realising that my parents are growing old and may face health issues and won't keep well. Their busy routine keeps them away from following a healthy lifestyle. I believe if my family back there is healthy, I can express myself the best on camera.

What's your one annoying habit?

I don't have any! You can ask people around me. If I had to answer I would probably say I talk a lot. I think when I talk I keep talking and when I am quite I stay quiet. I am extremist; either I talk too much or I don't speak at all.

Who is your inspiration?

I really get inspired by Ranveer Singh. His growth graph has crossed the x and y-axis and he has done amazingly well. You see him Band Baaja Baaraat and now in Padmavati, you can see his growth and his performance in Ramleela was nominated alongside Amitabh Sir and winning awards for Bajirao is amazing. He is an immensely hardworking and dedicated actor. After he does amazing stuff, he dances well. He gets the grip on the character and his energy and persona are very strong. He is a power packed entertainment package.