SPECIAL INTERVIEW: "It was a case of now or never for me" says NAVEEN PANDITA

In this exclusive telephonic interview for bollyy.com and Mayapuri, promising actor Naveen Pandita who is playing the role of a very loveable as well as very simple person without any airs who is ready to help each and eveery one who reaches out to him in the popular show Ranju Ki Betiyaan on air on Dangal TV tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that he was an IT engineer before he embraced acting as a full fledged career.

"Even while I was working in the IT sector, I came across my would be wife and decided to marry her as I felt it was a really a case of now or never," he asserts.

Describe your character in Ranju Ki Betiyaan?

My character’s name is Vishesh Pandey in Dangal TV’s Ranju Ki Betiyaan, he is a very simple, yet honorable person.

He is a very sweet, disciplined person who loves everyone around him. He is known for being kind, he respects Shalu, her family and his family the most, and can do anything if there is any problem which occurs in front of them. He is the hero of Shalu’s life and he saves everyone who needs him.

How many serials have you done in the past?

Ranju Ki Betiyaan is my 11th show. I have done many interesting characters before this show as well. Some of them were in the lead role.

Which are the serials you consider the best out of the shows you’ve done before?

The shows I consider the best are Jag Jaanani Maa Vaishnodevi- Kahani Mata Rani Ki, Jiji Maa, Ek Bhram Sarvagun Sampanna, Ranju Ki Betiyaan and Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara

Do you also have aspirations to be a part of feature films?

Recently I have been part of a Telugu film. I played the role of the antagonist and it was so much fun to be a part of the movie.

Its my dream also to do movies, webseries, but I want to wait for the correct time. Besides the Telugu movie, I have also acted in the movie Taxi 911.

I have also done a short feature film which had a duration of 54 minutes, on MX player named Trippy Trip.

How did you get a Telugu film first and not a Hindi film?

I was an IT Engineer before I came into acting, I was working with Infosys in Hyderabad for about two years.

During my free time, I started doing theatre from there and also bagged a few Telugu commercials after that. I was fair and my profile got circulated everywhere.

Once I got into acting, I left my permanent job. One day I got a call saying that I fitted perfectly into a particular character.

Without giving a second thought I went for the shot. I can speak Telugu very well and it added a plus point for me.

I did work hard and made it a point to work on the schedule atleast 15-20 days before. I was also handed over the script before hand, including the Hindi and the English script and then I rehearsed it and memorized it as well.

Have you been able to befriend all your co-actors in Ranju ki Betiyaan?

We have a huge starcast here in Ranju Ki Betiyaan and everyone has an important part to play. Everyone is very cordial and friendly to each other.

We all know that we are working together for one show and everyone gives his or her best for the same.

You seem to have married at a young age?

Yes, i did. I found the love of my life while I was working in the IT sector and I knew I had to get married to her now or never. We got married two years ago in Panipat.

Are you working for any other show right now?

I am currently working for Ranju Ki Betiyaan, and its been a wonderful time. There is so much learning and a growth curve in the character.

The show is going pretty well and the character is something which I always wanted to do. Vishesh is a very calm yet nice person.

The toughest part is to show emotions in balance and that’s where Vishesh comes in. Its always easy to play a loud and bold character, but playing a soft charcter is extremely tough.

Name five filmmakers, who are in your wish list with whom you are eagerly waiting to work with?

The people I want to work with are Anurag Kashyap, Anurag Basu, Rajkumar Santoshi ,Neeraj Pandey and Divyansh Pandit.

Name your favorite actors and actresses?

The actors that I admire the most are Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Aayushmaan Khurana and last but nevertheless not at all the least Irrfan Khan.

The actresses I admire are Raveena Tandon, Kangana Ranaut, Deepika Padukone and of course Alia Bhatt.