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EXCLUSIVE: Nishant Malkani on playing 45 year old in Guddan: Was initially scared to play a complex character
In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, Nishant opened up about his role Akshat Jindal, why did he take up such a challenging role and his expectations from the show. Read on.
With Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega, Nishant Malkani returns to the TV screens as an angry young man. Nishant, 30, will be seen playing a 45-year-old Akshat Jindal on the show whose USP is having the youngest saas. Nishant made his TV debut with Miley Jab Hum Tum and even worked in web series. In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, Nishant opened up about his role Akshat Jindal, why did he take up such a challenging role and his expectations from the show.
At the time when stars are actually looking forward to playing younger characters, what prompted you to take up this role?
When I got a call for this role from the production, they told me that they had a role they would like me to audition for. I was like, 'sure, tell me about it and the first thing they told me is he is a 45-year-old guy.' I was surprised and I told them to hold and reconfirmed if they know I am Nishant Malkani. I told them, 'I think you have called me 15 years early for this character' But they were adamant that they wanted me to try as the channel thought I could pull this off. But I was still not convinced. 
Later, somebody from the channel later called and asked me why did I refuse the character. When I told them about the age, they said that the character doesn't have to look 45, it has to look 30. They explained me the character in detail, the layers to it, I realised that it is a challenging character. Initially, I was skeptical as it is very scary to play a complex character as I cannot imagine the experience of a 45 year old, second, he misses his dead wife and I had no idea how that feels. Initially I was scared but then I thought the more challenging it is, the more it will be attractive for me. If I can pull this off, the world will say that he could do it. Not many would risk threading this part.
Did your peers warn you against taking up a role like this? What was your reaction?
They treat me as an actor only and they told me if you think you can do it, do it. They are always very supportive of me.
How was your first day on the sets?
First day of shoot, the most interesting part of his shoot was that it had no emotions. So, on the face of it, it looks like he is inhuman, he has no heart and is extremely practical. But the beauty of that is that he looks that emotionless, but it is because he has so much pain within as he is longing for his dead wife and he cannot replace her with anyone else.
Do you relate to Akshat as Nishant at any level?
I am too mature for my age, a lot of people say.. otherwise I don't really relate to the character much. The character is too far fetched for me.
Your idea of love?
My idea of love is giving. You cannot be selfish in love, and that is love for me.
Do you relate to the angry young man avatar and emotionless trait of the character?
When somebody has a lot of pain and anger build him inside him which the world won't understand, they end up looking emotionless. Most of the times, those people who look so emotionless on the outside are the more emotional. They are just scared to show it to the world because they are already hurt once.
What is your process as an actor to get into the role?
As Nishant, I am a very chilled out person but when I play Akshat Jindal for those 14-15 hours, I am the character even in between shots. I am sitting in one corner and being Akshat because I know the moment I leave the character and have to get into the character, I fear it might look pretentious. So, the only way I am catching the character right now is by doing this. They think I am really emotionless.
The show is also about second chances. Do you believe in it?
Love has to be given second chances. You cannot be alone just because your first love did not get fulfilled.
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