MUMBAI: Making a place in showbiz is no easy feat and we can safely say that actor Suraj Kakkar has done an amazing job. The actor, who has been part of shows such as Sanyukt (2016), Kavach... Kaali Shaktiyon Se (2016) and Lajwanti, talks about how he joined acting, his goals as an actor and who he looks up to.

Can you share something about your family and your education?

I used to stay in Gurugram where I have a joint family. My mom, dad and two elder brothers and their families and I stay together.  Being the youngest one in the family, I was always enthusiastic about sports and entertainment activities, right from school. So my friends motivated me to work on my body and get a good figure. I started gymming when I was in ninth grade. After a year only, my body turned out so good that people started telling me to get into modelling and try acting.

How did you get your first break in the industry? Can you talk about your struggle

My family also, like many other families, had this thing that acting is not the right profession to go into. But I didn’t like that. We have a family business too which has spread over five generations now and has given us everything, but somehow I never wanted to be part of it. I came to Mumbai, started with modelling and did two shows. I still remember, as soon as I came, I had this feel that I belong here and that I want to work here. I loved everything here. Plus, soon I realised that modelling was not the right industry for me. I didn’t want to be part of it after a point of time. Then I came into acting. I realised that only talent works here, at the end of the day, you will come in front of the camera and people will like you or dislike you for what you can do there. My family refused to let me do this, but I was adamant. My mom and dad dropped me in Mumbai and I still remember they had tears in their eyes when they went back. It was too tough for them. The first thing I did when I came here was that I went for an audition. I went inside the audition room and I ran away. I entered the room, I saw these boys auditioning, 10-15 of them were there and I went in and came out. The first thing I thought was that I can’t do this, I am very nervous. I joined acting classes by Promod Ghosh for three months. We were in front of the camera every single day during these classes. We did so many scenes and enacted so many emotions. After this, I knew I was ready. I started giving auditions every day. I must have auditioned at more than 50 places in one month. After a month, I got Lajwanti. My character name was Chaman Lal. It was a negative lead.

Tell us about a character that's close to you.

The character that has been very close to me is Sameer from Sayunkt. This was a story on a father, who has four kids. I played the youngest one. The story is that the father convinces his kids to live in one house. Playing Sameer was quite relatable as I too have a joint family. My dad is now 73 years and the amount I am connected with my brothers, I am not connected to my dad. There is a generation gap with him. Actor Kiran Kumar played our father, he is such a senior actor. All of us who worked on the show were so close. We could actually feel the emotion and love that brothers share. We are still friends and it’s been four years.

As a young actor how do you see the opportunities an actor gets in the industry.

I came to Bombay when I was 19 years old and started working here. I was all alone here. In the first few weeks, I just observed how everything works, acting, auditions, camera, technical knowledge… so that I can plan my journey. I observed so much. I saw plays. I saw performers using different crafts, methods in their acting, different acting skills. I realised that all this was hidden somewhere inside you and that I could also achieve all this. Thus, began the process of exploring emotions and my evolution as an actor started taking place. I have done 6 workshops, 550 episodes in these 5 years. It was not like I never got nervous. That is a part of life. It’s like breaking a wall. The wall of nervousness is always there but you have to break that wall and I loved that. It pushed me towards my goal. I started falling in love with acting. I learnt how to manipulate my emotions, I went to Tamil Nadu for a workshop, I did one in Delhi and four in Mumbai. My pattern has been like one show and then one workshop. I understood that I am young and have a lot of time. I get those kinds of roles also because I look young. So, if I have been able to learn so much now, I feel I can perfect myself in the future. When you are in front of the camera, your craft comes first. I have observed and learnt this. I am working towards that. It’s an endless process. I see great opportunities coming up for me.

You are just 24. What kind of roles do you want to play in your future projects

I am 24 and I have played six roles yet, all in TV. Now, I want my own project as the lead as now I know I am ready and prepared to handle the show on my shoulders. I am quite disciplined when it comes to working. I am looking for web series and films, where ever I can fit. I can work according to the graph of the director’s, producer’s and the writer’s vision. I feel I can understand characters well. I listen carefully, observe and try to do what the writer and director want. I can play any character, I don’t want to limit myself to one type. I like playing negative characters, you can actually do a lot with these characters. You need to give those kinds of expressions and when your emotions come out, it’s really cool. I love playing negative characters. It suits me as well.

What are your thoughts on the OTT platforms gaining popularity? As an actor, what is the best part about the platform.

OTT platforms are at the peak at this time. Who doesn’t want to work in them? Their viewership is amazing. My mom, dad, who used to watch TV, watch these platforms now. The thing that is great on these platforms is that everything is open. You can play anything on them. But it is true that as far as Indian content is concerned, it is very limited on these platforms. More content still needs to come. I feel that this will give me an opportunity. I want to become part of web series and films. TV is great, gives you money but there is still a limit to the performance. And films and web series, there is no limit, you are free to do what you want with the character. Someone who knows to act and whose craft is good can actually bring such a change in the scene. I am a writer also and I write things too. Whenever I get free time, I am writing. I want to be an artist and not just an actor. I want to be perfect in every field be it technical knowledge, writing, acting. OTT platforms are amazing and I can really gain a lot of popularity there.

While TV still chooses to go with popular faces as the lead, OTT platforms are not very particular about that. Comment.

TV goes with popular faces when it comes to selecting the lead. When you talk about any production house in the TV industry, you will see that most of the times they take new faces. They take people who are popular on Facebook and social media platforms. But on OTT platforms, this is not there. All the production houses and casting agencies are ready to bring in new faces. The graph of TV and OTT is different. It’s a different story altogether. I would like to go on OTT platforms, then films and then TV. Because then you can be popular as otherwise, it is tough on TV to selected for the lead role.

Who is your favourite Bollywood actor and actress? And any acting hero?

The actor who I love watching in Bollywood was Irfan Khan. I love these legendary actors like him and Naseeruddin Shah. I have never missed even one of Naseeruddin Shah’s plays. I have seen all of his plays. He stands alone on stage and for three hours no one can move their eyes off him. People are crying and feeling every emotion. He is just so good and I know him personally also. I love watching him. I would say Kareena Kapoor Khan is my favourite actress. She is fabulous, her expressions are amazing. I like Alia Bhatt also. Both are so confident about acting and they have such skills. They go deep inside the audience’s heats.

If not an actor what would you have been and why?

If not an actor, I would have been a businessman. Our business is more than 40 years old. I would have been travelling throughout the world and earned tons of money through my business. Of course, I like living that life but I wasn’t ready to limit myself to something. But I do have a business bent of mind. Because of Covid-19, I went back and my brother told me to start an eCommerce site called bookmaharaj.com. It has more than 5 lakh books in every single field.

TV industry is evolving. Can you comment on that?

That is true, the TV industry is evolving and it should. Our country is evolving, our youth and parents are also evolving. If you don’t step forward with the youth of the country, then you will be left behind and you will take time to recover. It’s important to evolve with our generation and that will work out for TV. TV has to move away from the regular genres. It is important to have reality-based relatable content.