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EXCLUSIVE- Shardul Pandit: I’ve thoroughly battled body-shaming issues, not just women but men also face it
Shardul Pandit opens up on being typecasted as an antagonist.
Talk about one good looking lad on Indian Television who very well knows how to slowly but steadily climb up the success ladder and we have Shardul Pandit.
Once a Video Jockey, the handsome recently bagged his first full fledged project, Kuldeepak on &TV opposite Keerti Nagpure.
Well, what seems like a doddle was definitely a tough row to hoe for this former VJ. But he considers his sheer self confidence and patience to have helped him sail through the highs and lows in life.
Here are the excerpts from the Interview:
Tell us something about your show and your role?
My show is called Kuldeepak which is a story of a troubled child who has some special powers who saves from being evil and whether it turns out good. My character is called Devang Purohit, he is a father of this child and a non-believer in God. He is very logical, practical, and romantic husband and a very protective father.
How did the collaboration happen?
Initially I was look testing for a show which was on the same channel but for some reason that didn't happen and then I was called for this show and I actually landed up there in shorts. They thought I was too young for this show, for this role and I was fine with it. Later on, they called me again and asked for another shot to be tested. I gave the audition and went back to Indore for my vacations. It was my mother's birthday when I get to know that I had been selected for the role. It was overwhelming.
How has the journey been from one end of the glam world to the other?
The journey has always been very interesting for me because I started with television after that I went to Dubai and I came back and became an anchor on a Music Channel and then landed into acting. My journey has been very interesting from here to there and from there to here. Also, it has been very satisfying because I kept on doing different kinds of stuff. I was always gambling with the mediums whether it is radio, whether it is anchoring or whether it is acting; which all helps you to become a better actor.
Being a part of the glam world since years, did you ever come across any unhealthy experience?
I think all of us have been through good and bad experiences in the industry. I had got my very first show Bandhani very easily but after that, people branded me and tagged me as a guy who can do great negative roles but nobody was willing to give me a positive role. I really battled the body shaming issues. It’s not just that women go through it, but men also face such situations.. So there is a certain perception in the industry that if there is a hero, he should be muscular and broad which is actually crap. You can see big heroes like Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, they are very charming but definitely do not have the best body in the industry. But in Television people say, "Body Honi Chahiye, Acting Toh Hum Karwa Lenge." So nobody casts you for your acting actually but just for your body. I am happy that I got my show on my morals and acting.
Message for fans?
I have two parts messages for fans
1) A big big thank you. I believed in what audience showed me in the first week of my serial that I can be a positive hero while earlier some thought that I can only be good in negative roles. A lot of people told me that I will never ever get a positive role because I was a strong actor and had a strong voice.
2) I have to thank all the fans who have been my fans from Radio days to Bandhani and Dubai to anchoring- acting now. They have been always in touch with me. They support every project that I do. I want to be one of the actors who is always connected to his fans.
All the best Shardul!
Rasika Deshpande is a dedicated writer with a strong foundation in journalism. Armed with a Master’s in
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