‘PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH REAL CONCEPTS ON TV’

Says actor Hiten Tejwani who talks about the changes on the small screen in the past 12 years, and his journey as an actor

Apopular face on television, Hiten Tejwani has had a long career, which started with roles in Ghar Ek Mandir and Kabhii Sautan Kabhii Saheli. But it was the role of the arrogant brat Pratham in Kutumb that catapulted him to stardom. He followed up his success with a role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (KSBKBT) which proved that he was not a one hit wonder. Since then, he has done 29 serials and eight movies, and is still going strong. On the 12th anniversary of HT Mumbai, he talks to us about his 12-year journey and why he doesn’t shy away from playing a father on screen.

What have been the milestones in your career?

Every year, I learnt something and improved my craft. I have got a lot of love from the audience. It has been a rollercoaster ride but I had a lot of fun doing it (laughs). I am thankful that I got good roles in my career. I started with Kutumb, where I played a spoilt brat and later I played the role of an obedient son Karan Virani in KSBKBT. Both gave me immense popularity. Then there were other shows like Pavitra Rishta, Gangaa, Jasuben Jayantilaal Joshi Ki Joint Family, where I tried comedy as well.

How do you think you have evolved as an actor?

When you are a beginner, you need experience in acting. Once you grow in your profession, the understanding of how things work in this field, and your own personal experiences with people help you emote better on screen. You start becoming diverse, give a more nuanced performance. With time, as your body changes, your body language does too. All of these things essentially help the portrayal of a character. With ‘dad’ roles being the need of the hour, one does add gravitas to the characters with experience.

What changes have you noticed in the industry since you began acting?

Today, I feel people want to watch real concepts on TV. They have evolved and they now accept newer concepts, for example, a young girl falling in love with an older man and vice versa. It wouldn’t work 15 years ago. Today, they know it happens in the society, so the audience is willing to watch such stories. The current topics are loved by the youth and there are certain channels that cater to them which are working well. There are so many channels today that the viewer is flooded with choices. If you are bored with one show, you can switch to another by the mere press of a button. The surge in reality shows also happened in the last 12 years.

If given a chance, would you change anything in your career?

I wouldn’t want to change anything. I fared pretty well in my career. However, I feel I have a lot more to do. I have a long way to go. I feel I did justice to whatever roles and shows I was a part of. At the same time, I enjoyed my work too.

PHOTO: SHAN DONGRE