“When you have the opportunity to replicate what you've done from childhood to now, it becomes close to your heart”, says 'Mehndi Wala Ghar' actor Kanwarjit Paintal

Sony Entertainment Television's family drama, ‘Mehndi Wala Ghar’, has captivated the audience with its narrative revolving around Ujjain’s Agrawal family, touching upon the complexities of familial bonds and creating intrigue about whether the Agrawals will remain united in the face of adversity. In the ongoing track, viewers have witnessed how Mini’s wedding festivities have brought all the family members together under one roof, and Mauli (played by Shruti Anand), has taken it upon herself to reunite the Agarwal family. Mauli and Rahul have successfully saved Mini from the shackles of domestic violence, and bringing this truth in front of Janaki Maa has brought a ray of hope for the entire family to be together once again. And one member of the family, who has always been Mauli’s biggest supporter is her grandfather, Hari (played by Kanwarjit Paintal).
In a candid conversation, actor Kanwarjit Paintal discusses the storyline, his character, his bond with his co-stars, the evolution of content, and much more.
 
1.           Could you please share your experience working on the show "Mehndi Wala Ghar" and playing the character of Hari Agrawal?
ANS: This character is a reflection of my personal life. When I started my career, I came alone to Mumbai. After receiving training from TII, I worked hard and eventually established myself. I also helped my brother and brought my family here. When you have the opportunity to replicate what you've done from childhood to now, it becomes close to your heart. When I heard about this character, I felt I could identify with it. I could make it my own and present it. That's why I said yes to this character. Secondly, my character and I have a similar personality - Happy Go Lucky and not very serious. Especially at this age, Hari wants to bring everyone together and move forward. Additionally for me, as an actor, there is a lot of opportunity to perform and bring in a lot of variation to the character. I thank God for this opportunity and I feel blessed that the creative team gave me this chance to be a part of this show; the entire team is fun to work with; it is like a family.
2.           The show mainly focuses on family dynamics and relationships. How do you think the character of Hari Agrawal contributes to the overall theme of the show?
ANS: ‘One for All and All for One’ is the family’s motto. However, due to circumstances, this unity broke, and after 24 years, they had a chance to reunite, thanks to Mauli. She tries to reunite the family for the happiness of her foster father, Manoj. But Janaki Maa, who is a very strong character, is resentful about the past. She feels that the family didn’t do enough to stay together and now that they are separated, they will remain separated for life; there is no need to connect with them. However, when Mauli arrives with Manoj, Hari helps her to reunite everyone by going against his family. As an actor, I feel I have the chance to portray different emotions and representations, which drives me to perform better with each episode.
3.           "Mehndi Wala Ghar" has a diverse star cast with actors from different age groups such as Vibha Chhibher, Karan Mehra, Shruti Anand, and Shehzad Shaikh, etc.  Could you share any off-screen bonds that you share with them?
ANS:. My relationships are selfless; they come from the heart, and all these young kids give me a lot of love. When we went to Ujjain, Karan, who is like a son to me, was standing outside the airport and waiting for me. He helped me with the check-in and seating; he behaved like a son and cared for me. There isn't any one specific incident, but the collective respect from everyone is heartwarming. I also give them love and respect; I am grateful that despite being young, they are very respectful towards me. I am really enjoying the one-to-one connection with everyone.
4.           Hari Agrawal shares a good relationship with Mauli in the show. How did you build chemistry with your co-star Shruti Anand to make those relationships appear more convincing on screen?
ANS: Shruti is a very good person. On the first day of the shoot, we had an emotional scene where we had an unspoken, eye-to-eye conversation of love and respect. I never had to consciously maintain a relationship with her; our bond just formed naturally. She is very sweet, and I feel like she is my daughter. Even in her performance, she is very honest, and there is depth in her eyes. After seeing her, a very instant father-daughter bond formed with her. I really wish her all the best, and she has my love and respect.
 
6.           You have had an illustrious career across films and television. Would you like to talk about how storytelling has evolved over the years?
ANS: Things change according to the times, so the old days were good, and the new days are good too. I feel storytelling was always good back then and even now, but the only change is technology.
7.           What can viewers expect in the upcoming episodes of "Mehndi Wala Ghar"?
ANS: There are going to be a lot of twists and turns, along with some very good, emotional scenes in the show. The differences and closeness between characters will be evident, especially after the entire family comes together in order to save Mini’s wedding, showcasing that while they may live apart, they are still connected from within.