Television has given me lifetime of happiness, success, and satisfaction

Completing close to 23 years in the Indian television industry, actor Mehul Nisar recently made an entry in & TV's Santoshi Maa Sunaye Vrat Kathayein, portraying the role of Dhiraj Chadda or DC as one may call him. Dhiraj owns a resort where Swati (Tanvi Dogra) and Indresh (Ashish Kadian) will come visiting and get stuck. In a candid conversation, Mehul talks about his role and experience shooting for the show and what lies ahead. 

•    How has been your journey in the TV industry so far?
•    It has been a rollercoaster ride for me in the television industry. I started my career in 1998, and since then, there has been no turning back. I still remember my first shoot where I played the role of a young teenager as a part of a high school drama, and now, I am playing a father to a young daughter. I did not realise how time transitioned, and it has been more than two decades in this industry. Television has given me a lifetime of happiness, success, and satisfaction.

•    Tell us about your role in the show and how did you bag it? 
•    I am playing the role of Dhiraj Chadda, a resort owner, popularly called DC. He is a loving father to a young daughter who has been brought up in the States. He is an ardent devotee of Santoshi Maa and believes in the simplicity of Indian culture and traditions, whereas his daughter is the opposite of him. She is a modern-age girl and westernised in her outlook, while DC is still traditional and rooted. Like any other father, DC also wants his daughter to be a lot more entrenched in her Indian roots and values. However, when he meets Swati for the first time, seeing her simplicity, Dhiraj accepts her as his daughter. Getting this role and being a part of this fantastic show was Mata blessings as it was a last-minute call. Due to the shoot restrictions in Maharashtra, the storyline has been tweaked to suit the outdoor shoot location, and I was approached to play the show owner. I bagged the role just a day before leaving for the shoot.

•    What made you take up this show?
•    I have watched the show, and I genuinely love it. The best part of Santoshi Maa Sunaye Vrat Kathayein is how the makers have drawn a parallel between the Swarg lok and Prithvi lok and integrated them. The storyline and concept are exciting and appealing. The cast has been a complete delight and, of course, very talented people. Aur aaj iss show ka hissa bann kar mujhe bahut Khushi ho rahi hai! It has been fantastic shooting with the team. Everyone is so forthcoming and warm. From the first day of the shoot itself, everyone welcomed the new members with open arms and instantly mingled. 

•    Do you relate to your character of DC? How different or similar are the two of you? 
•    DC aur mujh mein bahut kuch milta julta hai. I, too, cannot contain my emotions, and I often come across as a loud Punjabi. Also, DC and I both share a happy-go-lucky attitude which makes the character fun to play. He loves meeting new people and making new friends, which again reminds me of myself. Eagerly looking forward to the audience's reaction to Dhiraj Chadda. I hope DC makes his space in Janta Janardhan's heart soon.

•    Which is your favourite genre, and why? 
•    The comedy genre holds a special place in my life as I have essayed comic and light-hearted characters all my life. The feeling of making others laugh is surreal. But frankly speaking, Kisi ko Hasana itna aasan nahi Hota hai. It would help if one has a balance of great sense of timing and humour and knows where to draw the line. By God's grace, comedy comes naturally to me. It has been a part of my personality now, and I am glad that I make many people laugh and forget their worries with my skill. It is indeed a blessing! 

•    How has your experience shooting with the team been so far?
•    Well, shooting with the unit has been one fun experience. The entire cast and crew are very warm, welcoming, and friendly. We have our breakfast, lunch, and dinner together like a big family, and even after packing up, we spend a lot of time together, having fun and getting to know each other. At the same time, we ensure that we follow every safety precautions and protocols during the shoot and even off-shoot. The experience has been excellent, and there is so much to learn from every person.