I have grown up on literature and mythological stories. They have fascinated me since childhood, and I believe every character that I portray on screen is an extension of my personality to some degree. That is why whatever role I play seems in my comfort zone.
Ashish Sharma
'Siya Ke Ram' is the story of Sita and Ram as two equally strong individuals, and I feel 'Ramayan' is as much as Sita's journey as it is Ram's.
My family is really happy that I'm playing Ram.
I think I have been blessed to play a variety of roles. I have experimented and done different things.
Shows with good content are important, and not the genre.
If loving your job qualifies you as a workaholic, then yes, I am one for sure!
Not just me, in fact, my entire family is a devout follower of Lord Hanuman. It's an annual affair where we all celebrate Hanuman Jayanti with a big puja at home, and all the relatives join us in the puja.
I love period dramas - be it romance or philosophy.
I can't stand the slow pace of Jaipur anymore. I like staying in Mumbai, as everyone is on the move.
I know April, May and June are a few unbearable months, and working out in a gym and sweating in such dirty hot, sticky, humid weather puts me off. The best way is to swim. I feel so fresh and rejuvenated after swimming, and I believe it's one of the best mode to fitness during summers.
Sita and Ram were two strong individuals, and their love for each other is an example for lovers across the globe.
A film shoot usually wraps up in a couple of months. But television shoots involve longer hours of work.
I was always passionate about acting.
A lot of people thought that it was a foolish step to move to television. But for me, it is all about the creative satisfaction I get.
If you ask me, I would love to see works like Sharat Chandra Chatterjee's 'Badi Didi,' Munshi Premchand's 'Nirmala,' and Phanishwar Nath Renu's 'Maila Anchal' come alive on small screen.
In Jaipur, I did almost everything from regional theatre to Shakespeare's plays. But when I shifted to Mumbai, I joined Anupam Kher's academy, Actor Prepares,to hone my acting skills.
I am from Jaipur where 'Ramlila' is a common theatre act. Though I was a thin, lanky fellow, I was always offered the role of Hanuman.
Direction is something that interests me. Even while shooting, I always have conversations with the director to get a better understanding of shooting technicalities.
'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' has helped me shed my inhibitions. Dancing in front of an audience was not easy for me. But I managed it and got progressively comfortable with the audience as the weeks progressed.
We all have this idea of Ram being a patient person besides being a great archer, a horse-rider, and above all, a compassionate king. There is more to him than that.
I have always been a huge fan of Shakespeare.
'Rangrasiya' was a very special show for me. It played a very important part in shaping up my career. I feel it was a premature end to the show. My character Rudra was very close to my heart.
I don't want to do roles in films which I have already done on TV. What is the point of jumping to films and doing the same thing?
I was on the lookout for something different, as I was exhausted with the fiction space. When I was asked to host 'Tujhse Naaraz Nahin Zindagi,' it was not as an actor but as an individual, and on being explained the concept, I found it interesting and accepted it since it was about real people and real life.
TV does not offer much for the male lead actors, but I was lucky to act in shows like 'Chandragupta Maurya,' 'Rab Se Sohna Isshq,' 'Gunahon Ka Devta,' and 'Rangrasiya.'
Men in Rajasthan pride themselves on their moustaches. It is a sign of their masculinity.
All the characters in 'Rang Rasiya' are inspired from the Shakespearean drama 'Othello.' This is exactly what interested me to take up this role.
If two actors can communicate well during a scene, it works and makes for good chemistry.
Working on television is much more stressful than working for a movie. The pace of work is relaxed while shooting a movie.
When I get into the shoes of any character, I work on getting the perfect look.
I feel no one has the right to click pictures of anyone without their consent.
There'll always be a difference between a star and an actor. I've nothing against stars. They've earned it and deserve it. I'm happy being just an actor.
Once this old lady saw me in airport and just kept smiling at me, and after much hesitation, she came and asked me, 'Are you Ram? Can I touch your hair? Is it real?' and I happily obliged.
I am inspired by the kind of films Raj Kumar Gupta and Imtiaz Ali make.
When I came to Mumbai, I only wanted to be an actor, and my approach hasn't digressed over the years. I never really hoped to be in the limelight or wanted to be a star.
Of course I want to do films. But to me, television is equally important. It is where I got recognition.
I don't know why people feel popular actors avoid doing mytho shows. Aren't they also doing good? Sometimes such shows give you more fame.
I have very few friends and don't talk much.
I'd rather sit at home than be a part of a popular show and be a piece of furniture.
I am thankful that 'Jhalak' made me a professional dancer now from just a 'barat' dancer.
You can ask my wife - there has always been mutual respect between us, and I believe women should be respected for what they are; at no point should they feel the need to be like men.
I feel good when I come to Ahmedabad.
Whenever you give a shot, the nervous energy in your stomach is the key to that emotional breakdown, that kick that is needed to perform.
I respect women but do not necessarily believe that women need to compete with men.
There are too many positive and goody male characters on TV, and they work, so its good for them. I feel each to their own. If it works for them, it's fine. I don't connect to such characters, so I won't do them.
If you see the roles that I've done so far, whether it was Gunahaon ka Devtaa, Chandragupta Maurya, or Rab Se, everything has been starkly different from each other.
I choose grey characters, as I enjoy playing a human character. I don't shy away from showing the shortcomings of my characters.
We always see a trend on TV, and others follow suit. I think 'Rangrasiya' will be a trend setter, too.
I have been doing action roles for a while and really wanted to explore the other side of my personality on screen.
I haven't had any formal training, but I guess dance comes naturally to us - people from the north. See how much we dance at weddings.
