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EXCLUSIVE: Varun Toorkey on Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, shooting with Shivangi Joshi, Shehzad Shaikh & more
Varun Toorkey, aka Rishabh got in a chat with Pinkvilla, and spoke at length about the show, his equation with the co-stars, and roles he'd like to do in the future.
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai is currently witnessing an interesting track, and while Naira's (Shivangi Joshi) memory loss drama has all the fans waiting for the moment of realization of her love for Kartik (Mohsin Khan), Rishab, Naira's friend has also become a part of the equation. Varun Toorkey, aka Rishabh got in a chat with Pinkvilla, and spoke at length about the show, his equation with the co-stars, and roles he'd like to do in the future.
How did the show come across to you and what did it take to say a yes?
Actually, it was the regular process. I got a call and they needed someone for this character. The whole point was they needed someone for a cameo so that’s what I was kind of looking for at the event. And, the fact that it was a cameo in one of the longest running shows in the country was of course, an added bonus. But actually, until I started shooting I hadn’t realised the reach of the show, but once my episodes went on air, the response that I was getting, even if it is a backlash or something, the magnitude of it is pretty commendable. So I am kind of just wrapping my head around it.
What kind of response have you been receiving and how is the show treating you?
The die heart fans of a Kaira are not liking it one bit at the moment, but it’s also, it’s just he has come as a friend, and he is also somewhere attracted to her and he is somewhat smitten by her (Naira) but then later he comes to know that she is married. As of now, he is just trying to help her brother (Naksh) to sort of normalise her but somewhere she obviously is attracted to Mohsin’s character who she thinks is Sid. So it is kind of a sticky one-sided love triangle right now. It will be a little more fun when it becomes two-sided from any angle, which will probably happen a little later. Right now, Rishab is very sorted, but later, when a conflict arises of what happens and what he wants to do, that may be a turning point of him turning a little selfish.
Was there a reason why you were looking for a cameo and not something that’d go on longer?
I wasn’t necessarily looking for a cameo, I kind of wanted to try my hand out at other things because I have been doing television for quite some time now. And as you know, television is really indefinite as far as the tenure of the shows is concerned and I did not want that kind of uncertainty. For me, as long as my character is helping the story move forward, there are no other qualms I have. It is actually a great unit to shoot with and it’s going great.
Most of your scenes are with Shezad Shaikh and Shivangi, how is your off-screen camaraderie with everyone?
So my apprehension wasn’t really being a part of the show that is a legacy, but it was being a part of a unit which is such a well-oiled machine. They have been working for sooo many years, and me coming into a unit like after ten years. But it wasn’t any more than a couple of hours that I felt like it’s all going to be great.
So Shehzad I’ve known some time before this but Shivangi I met for the first time, but again, like everyone else, it took us one or two shots to get comfortable with each other. It’s all a very positive environment and now I actually look forward to going to the shoot and it is the most important thing for me to be in a good headspace.
All the shooting and so many hours can be tiring despite a cameo. How is that going for you?
So that’s just my process you know (laughs). Because I know it sucks the life out of you and I like to give it my all when I am shooting for something. So once the shoot gets over, I need some time to recoup also. It’s just that thing you know, how you’re waiting for it to get over while it is going on, and when it is over, you are like why is it over. It is just one of those catch 22 situations. But eventually, you just work it around.
The show is a daily soap and yet different as it caters to the younger generation equally as much. How do you feel about that?
It is a bonafide daily soap you know, and yet, it is not dated even after 10 years. It has been evolving over the years and that is something that is hard to crack so hats off to the team. Because even after a decade, there is a lot of freshness and so far it is so good.
Anything you’re looking at after Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, something that someone is already doing or otherwise?
I don’t know if someone is currently doing it or not, I am looking for something that is edgier than normal. So even if it is a negative character, it’s good. I also want to try my hand out at web series. Honestly, if you ask me what kind of a character I want to play, it is actually a borderline psychotic kind of a grey shades character. (something like Jennifer Winget may be?) There is a lot to show when the character isn’t outright positive. To each to its own, of course but anything that’s out of the box works with me.
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