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EXCLUSIVE: Namik Paul talks about Kavach Mahashivratri's staggering TRPs, taking Naagin 3's slot & more
Namik Paul, who plays Angad Jindal in the show, got talking about the TRPs, chemistry with Deepika as a co-actor and a lot other things to say the least.
Thursdays are for TRPs and well, what follows is all the happiness from the fans, the actors and the entire team of the shows that have performed well. Ekta Kapoor is called the TV Czarina in its true sense because she creates shows that are a hit with the audiences and at the same time, she keeps the content such which is different and yet massy. For Ekta, it has always been playing with numbers as far as her shows are concerned, and this week saw another of her shows make it to the top.
Kavach Mahashivratri starring Namik Paul and Deepika Singh in the lead roles made it to the top 10 with a staggering 2.7 points. Taking Naagin 3's time slow, the show is just behind Naagin as far as the top 10 are concerned with Naagin 3 taking the 6th spot while Kavach took the 7th spot on the list. Namik, who plays Angad Jindal in the show, got talking about the TRPs, chemistry with Deepika as a co-actor and a lot of other things to say the least.
Kavach Mahashivratri made it to the top 10 in its first week. How happy are you?
It is damn exciting and honestly, I am not used to it since my shows are more critically acclaimed. Though both my previous shows were popular in their own ways but the TRPs is very new to me and being in the top 10 is amazing. Everyone has their own views by I am very happy and excited and proud of the team since it is a complete team effort and so it is really kind of validation that it is working.
You made a choice between Kavach and Kasautii Zindagii Kay. Do the numbers give you a validation of having made the right choice?
You know I don't want to get caught into the TRP thing because there are so many factors that go into it, if you noticed the IPL just got over and the TRPs have really gone up and now the World Cup has started and cricket in India is undefeated so you can't really compete with it so all these factors come into place and when people go oh my god the TRPs have fallen there are so many reasons for it. So eventually numbers do matter but since the show has started we have got a good response, people are saying the mystery is nice and people are intrigued by it. The audiences are so smart that if you can keep them hooked and connected to what is happening, that itself is huge. Usually, they figure out what happens very quickly. As far as choosing the show goes, I have been having a blast and I am glad I chose the show. Nothing against Kasautii Zindagii Kay, I would have loved to do that as well but for me, there haven't been any second thoughts and I am very very happy to do this and the TRPs are the icing on the cake.
I have read how you think it is difficult for you to get the right kind of chemistry with your co-star. But the fans (including me) are happy with chemistry with Deepika. What do you have to say about that?
See for Indian television, a lot has got to do with the chemistry and it is paramount since it sets the tone because if people care about us as a couple then they are emotionally invested in the story all the more. Full credits to Deepika as an actor but so much credit goes to the writing, to the director. I am so thankful we got about a month and a half before we went on air because we really got to work together and give it time. I can't take credit as an actor because a lot of thought went into it, our creative Sandiip Sikcand had ideas, our director worked on it so I am glad it has come across as well and it has been just four episodes. As a co-actor, Deepika has always given her all and that is something that is infectious because when someone is working hard you automatically want to give in double efforts.
You ended up choosing supernatural yet again. Did it come with too many second thoughts?
I did not want to play the same role, even if I do a romantic show, a lot of times, because of how I am built (read: Tall and brooding), I might be cast as the guy who loves the girl and he can't say it, you know that in itself is a typecast, the silent guy who is angry, sort of like Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. There are so many things to think about and as a character, I think it is so different from both my previous roles and since people are loving the genre, what happens is you look at the story. If you look at it as a supernatural show then yes it gets reductive, but if you see the story, it is quite different and Ekta Kapoor and Balaji know how to get the content. I look at it from my perspective is all I would say.
Both your shows have been finite series, was choosing Kavach Mahashivratri a conscious decision?
All three of my shows have bee finite series and honestly, the first time wasn't in my hand but Ek Deewaana Tha and this is there are certain advantages since the story can be tight compared to other shows, you kind of know the graph over time. Also, it does overstay its welcome when they are extended when shows kind of begin to lag, those are the prime advantages. Partly it is a choice but it is not really a choice either, because both my shows did get extensions so that is there in the back of my mind but not the deciding factor.
Your show has taken the time slot of Naagin 3, do you feel any kind of pressure to fit in?
No, because Naagin has kind of crossed the social parlance and has transcended the TV thing given how the seasons have been with the first having Mouni Roy and the third having a totally new cast and it was still huge. I mean that is something else totally because people who don't even watch TV know about the show because of various reasons and it is crazy to want to compete with it given the brand it has become. It was never a thought to compete with it, obviously I am glad to have got a great time slot but I think Balaji knows how to cater to the audience and that is why doing the show I am not really thinking about TRPs because I know they know how to appease the audiences and I am doing my part. I am very happy to be working with them and as long as the numbers are coming it is just the silver lining.
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