“Communication is the key to keeping your relationships going in life” - Paras Arora aka Veer from Sony SAB’s Dil Diyaan Gallaan

Life isn’t measured in riches. The true measure of a life well lived is the relationships you nurture. A few words that are left unsaid could break a bond forged over generations. Sony SAB’s latest show, Dil Diyaan Gallaan is one such story about how unsaid words lead to a rift within a family and the consequences that follow. However, instead of focusing on the breakdown in relationships, the show offers hope in the form of a younger generation working towards bridging the gap between their elders.

Dil Diyaan Gallaan is the story of three generations with their roots in Punjab, and the show features veteran actor Pankaj Berry as Dilpreet along with an ensemble cast including Kaveri Priyam as Amrita, Jasjeet Babbar as Sanjot, Sandeep Baswana as Mandeep, Ravi Gossain as Mandeep, and Hema Sood as Riya among others. The show features a Punjabi family grappling with the consequences of migration, just like many families in India who are distanced from their loved ones due to migration, misunderstandings, and unspoken words. Paras Arora, portraying the character of Veer whose character will be instrumental in bringing estranged family members close once again, shares his thoughts on his character and the show.

1.    How does it feel to be a part of Sony SAB again?
It’s a surreal feeling as this is my fourth association with Sony SAB, and it feels like a homecoming. As an artist, I couldn't have asked for anything better. I am fortunate to have bagged this opportunity as it's definitely something very different from my previous characters. I think this show is different from what the audience has seen so far, and Dil Diyaan Gallaan is a breath of fresh air. Sony SAB has always been a go-to place for viewers for relatable content, and I am sure with our show, we will add to that feeling and resonate with people's everyday lives. As a team, we are putting in our best efforts, and I hope it’s reflecting on screen well for Dil Diyaan Gallaan.

2.    How do you define your character in the show?
This is one special opportunity where a show is allowing me to perform a character that is so rare, loving, and believes in the goodness of people. To add more about him, he is intelligent, mature, and wise, and he can also fight for what is right if required. Though he had a disturbing childhood as he lost his parents, Dilpreet and Sanjot made sure that he felt at home with them, and no wonder he is the happiest around them and considers them his support system.

3.    How different is this role from your previous projects with Sony SAB?
I have portrayed various characters before that are starkly different from each other. With my last show Kaatelal & Sons, I was playing a doctor. Sony SAB’s Dil Diyaan Gallaan allows me to play a character who believes in bridging the gaps between relationships and has a very positive outlook in life despite hardships. This is a character that brings hope, that looks at the positive aspects of life. Veer is a person who understands what’s at stake and work towards bringing people closer. There’s so much to explore with such an amazing character. I feel extremely privileged to be able to play Veer. I am certain audiences are going to fall in love with Veer and of course, the show!

4.    How did you prepare for the role of Veer?
Every character requires a certain level of preparation. Though while prepping up for Veer, I did have to get into the headspace of the character. However, Veer is pretty much like Paras in real life, so the efforts were more towards getting the dialect correct, understanding his thought process and getting his reactions to situations right. There’s something very endearing about Veer and my focus was largely on being able to portray that on screen. There’s a quiet strength to him, but at the same time, he’s also very intelligent. His ability to look at a problem critically but solving it with compassion is what really stood out for me and something I spent a lot of time working on.

5.    Share your working experience with Pankaj ji and Kaveri Priyam
This is my third show with Pankaj ji. He’s been in the profession for a long time and has excellent knowledge, so sharing the screen with such a senior actor is a huge thing. I learn new things from him every day. With Kaveri, this is my first show, but I have seen her on screen. She is terrific, and we have a lot of mutual friends, so it did not take much time to break the ice. When your co-actor is good, you don’t need to put in much effort to make the scene good. It happens naturally. 

6.    It's been 15 years in the industry, how do you describe your journey?
To be honest, I can’t even fathom the fact that it’s been 15 years already. When I look back at my journey, it feels like a dream come true. From doing mythological shows to light-hearted content on Sony SAB, it’s been inexplicable if I have to describe it in one word. Even today I feel like it’s still day one for me. I still have the same sense of awe when I am on sets and a deep sense of gratitude for everything my fans have given me to make me who I am today.

7.    How much do you relate to the character 'Veer' in Dil Diyaan Gallaan?
The character is very relatable to me because I started working at a very young age, had a lot of responsibilities, and I also stayed away from my parents for quite some time for my work. Veer also has all those things in common with me. Furthermore, he’s mature and has a lot of responsibilities at a very young age. I know what it takes to grow up before time. To think about how your actions could reflect on those around you. I see Veer doing a lot of that. Also, I totally relate to the concept of the show which will also give viewers a beautiful way of balancing their life choices and relationship with their loved ones. I personally try to implement all the learnings I am receiving from the show. There’s a lot viewers will be able to take away from Dil Diyaan Gallaan I feel. 

8.    What are your thoughts on parents sending their children abroad for a better future and then facing disappointment when they don’t come back?
Every parent wants to see their children grow successful and get a better education in a bigger institution. So, they put every effort into sending their children to the best place to study. But sometimes situations change, and kids do not return to their parents; this disappoints them. There has to be a mutual understanding between both parents and children. The choices we make should not cost us our relationships with our loved ones. I know it is easier said than done, but one has to try and communicate about these things. Communicating with each other makes things easier and better as they untangle the tangled situations. We are trying to portray the same through our show, and we hope people can have a positive perspective on the situation through our show.

9.    What is your learning and takeaway from the show that you think viewers will also connect to?
Communication is the key to keeping your relationships going in life. When it comes to relationships within the family, it is always better for the younger generation to go to their parents and have that heart-to-heart conversation. Every problem can be solved if spoken about with clarity and no ambiguity in it. Having said that, every relationship goes both ways, so even parents should take a step back and listen to their children. With mutual understanding, things are positive. Our show ‘Dil Diyaan Gallaan’ aims to spread the positive message of communicating transparency between all three generations.

Keep watching Dil Diyaan Gallaan every Monday to Saturday at 7:30 PM only on Sony SAB.