It’s not about how you look, but how you make a character your own: Shivin
Every actor follows a certain method when it comes to choosing characters and narratives, and for actor Shivin Narang, what matters is performanceoriented roles and meeting the audience’s expectations.
“There is a stage when you look for work and do whatever comes your way… at that time you are hungry to learn, earn a decent living and also create a standing in the industry. But there comes a phase wherein you think about your audience more than yourself... You also think what is it that you as an artiste are giving the audience, who have given you so much,” he explains.
The actor, who’s been a part of shows such as Ek Veer Ki Ardaas... Veera, shares how social media helps him in understanding the “pulse of the audience”. But, he feels it’s vital to “surprise the viewers” from time to time.
Narang’s latest outing — Rudra in Beyhadh 2 — is one such example. He says, “When Beyhadh 2 was offered to me, I was pretty sure this would be a surprise to viewers. For me, it was something which I haven’t tried before. Even as an actor if you see, I’ve never done a typical saas-bahu drama or a grey character.”
The 29-year-old recalls the time he was told he has a “chocolate boy face”, and isn’t apt for negative roles. “It would shock me, but then, I realised the audience also wasn’t ready to accept me in such characters. When Rudra came to me, I liked how balanced the character is. Hopefully, this would make people understand that it’s not about how you look, but how you perform and make a character your own,” he says.
Narang aspires to play a dark character soon, and also hopes to explore supernatural and mythology genres. In fact, he was to do a superhero show, “but that got pushed”. He adds, “I always wanted to do such a show; it’s a childhood fantasy. But I guess it’ll happen when it has to happen. I believe your character chooses you.”