MUMBAI: After modelling for 6 years and endorsing brands in over 50 commercials, the handsome Vikram Sakhalkar made an impressive start on TV with Savitri Devi College & Hospital (Rashmi Sharma Productions) on Colors. The show has Varun Kapoor and Swarda Thigale in lead roles. Vikram plays the parallel lead of Dr. Kabir.

Vikram made a smashing debut into acting with Madhur Bhandarkar’s Bollywood movie Calendar Girls and was seen in Hritik Roshan and Yami Gautam starrer Kaabil.

Vikram is overwhelmed with the response he is receiving for his small-screen debut. Read on to know what he has to say.

Your role as Dr. Kabir is an unconventional one. What do you like most about this character?

When this character was narrated to me, I was really excited because I never wanted to play a typical character we see in kitchen political dramas. Moreover, the concept of the show was interesting and playing a doctor intrigued me about how a hospital drama would be. I wouldn’t call my character a grey-shaded or a negative one because you cannot judge what a person is going through. My character is more of an anti-hero.

What excites you most about this character?

The very fact that I received an opportunity to play so many shades was and is exciting. Dr. Kabir was initially a no-nonsense person. After he started getting attracted to Sanchi, he was seen as a romantic one. Then, when Sanchi left him and went to Veer, Dr. Kabir was seen as an angry man. So overall, I have portrayed many shades, moods, and emotions. I am sure all of us can connect to Dr. Kabir because we all are complex as human beings.

How much do you relate Dr. Kabir personally?

I relate quite a lot as just like my character of Dr. Kabir, I am a secretive person who loves to be isolated and I am not very social. I am also very focused and determined and love to be with my family. When the character was narrated to me, I thought that this is so me! Being my first project on television, I felt honoured to play a character I could relate so much to. In fact, I feel there couldn’t be any better way to start of my career in TV than this character and a show like Savitri Devi College & Hospital.

How is your bond with your co-stars? Is there any off-screen mischief or pranks you’ll play?

Both Varun Kapoor and Swarda Thigale are fantastic co-workers. Especially Varun, he is a senior actor and is a well-known face in the industry. I am a newcomer and he made me feel very comfortable. Not only him, even Mohan Kapoor, Shilpa Shirodkar, Nishigandha...everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming. This show is one of the best experiences of my life and as an actor and an individual, I have learnt so much from them.

What kind of roles do you want to essay in the future?

As an actor, I want to work with good production houses. I consider myself a great student. I believe that all of us are students and nobody can master any art. My goal is to learn more and work with good talent. Of course, the script has to be good too. I believe that it is through teamwork that one achieves a feat. Right from the lightman to the cameraman, it is a combination of everyone that you see on the screen.

The digital medium is growing in a big way. Would you like to explore that space as well? Also, are you open to doing bold scenes or playing bold characters?

Absolutely. I believe that an actor should never sit idle and explore all the mediums, be it films, TV, theatre, or digital. An artist should always keep himself busy. I am open to all the mediums, provided I have a challenging role in my kitty. I am also open to doing bold and intimate scenes if the script demands it, as one needs to make the character look convincing. I want to do good work and excel in my craft, so these things do not matter.

How is the audience response for your character of Dr. Kabir? Are you content with your role?

It has been a fantastic journey. I never knew TV has such a wide reach to an audience. I am not very socially active but get so many messages from people around the world who watch the show and I realised the reach of television then. People have appreciated me for my acting and I feel blessed to get this opportunity.

All I want to say is that this is just the beginning and I have a long way to go. My goal is to entertain the audience as long as I am alive.

There are speculations that the show might go off-air due to low ratings...

I have no clue, and I assume the other actors too will have the same comment. We have been performing well from over a year, and it was only recently that our show had a 1.2 TRP, which is the highest recorded for any show in the 6:30 PM slot. To my knowledge, the show has been well received and on a high. As actors, it is our job to give our 100 percent and I guess we are doing our job quite well.

Any parting message?

I want to thank all my fans and friends, and as I mentioned earlier, this is just the beginning. I am here to entertain all my fans and I am humbled with everyone’s love and support.