From sleek, suit-clad characters to a rough-and-tough police officer, versatile actor Vijayendra Kumeria is back on screen in a brand-new avatar. Stepping into the shoes of Sanyam Singh, a sensitive yet fierce cop in Colors TV’s new show Juhi Mui, Vijayendra is ready to push his creative boundaries. The show promises an engaging blend of deep emotions, suspense, and social awareness, centring around a unique narrative that has the lead girl playing an autistic character.
In this exclusive conversation, Vijayendra opens up about ticking a major role off his bucket list, the intense physical transformation required for the uniform, and how he consciously avoids the vicious cycle of monotony.
Read on.
How does it feel to finally tick the police uniform off your career bucket list?
I am absolutely loving it! Playing a police officer, wearing that uniform, and carrying that specific aura on the sets is a wonderful experience. The scenes are beautifully written. Sanyam is a nice cop with a very sensitive heart. So yes, this is a major tick on my bucket list. I am thoroughly enjoying the scenes, the character, and the show as a whole. I am also incredibly glad that the audience has accepted me so well as a cop.
Thanks to the makers, the conceptualisation and writing are so strong that we just have to perform our scenes, keeping the specific briefs they have already given us in mind.
How important was this physical transformation in helping you slide into Sanyam’s mindset?
It was very important for me to look fit when wearing the uniform. First of all, playing the hero and a cop. If I weren’t physically fit, I wouldn’t have looked good in the uniform, and I wouldn’t have carried it well. To maintain that rigid posture and look like the tough guy I am portraying, I worked out a lot. Luckily, I got a few months, and I used that time to work heavily on my strength and muscles.
What did you have to consciously unlearn to ensure Sanyam didn’t look or feel like any character you’ve played before?
The most important thing was changing my body language. The previous character I played was a very cool, casual guy. He was not uptight at all; he didn’t have to constantly think about how he was sitting, standing, or walking. Here, for Sanyam, I had to consciously develop a strict posture and body language so that in every single frame, this guy looks alert and physically capable of taking on any challenge.
I am going to be like a tadka in this show! I will be bringing a lot of humour, action, and a very different kind of romance to the screen.
What is your personal thought on the concept? How is the show different?
It is a great concept. We are showcasing the world and journey of an autistic girl. A lot of people out there do not even know what autism is. Through our show, people might learn more about it—they will get to know the challenges involved and, importantly, how to deal with them. Alongside the social aspect, there is a lot of suspense, emotion, and drama packed into the story. I am sure people will love it.
How would you want to work on the unique on-screen dynamic and evolution of the bond between Sanyam and Juhi?
The progression will definitely be slow but gradual. The writers are doing a fantastic job, so I do not have to overthink it too much. But yes, while executing the scenes, we have to keep a lot of subtle nuances in mind. Thanks to the makers, the conceptualisation and writing are so strong that we just have to perform our scenes, keeping the specific briefs they have already given us in mind.
Your thoughts on Eisha Singh playing the unique role of Juhi.
Eisha is doing a great job. She has truly got into the skin of the character. This role requires an immense amount of effort, but the way she is portraying it makes it look completely effortless.
At this stage of your career, how crucial is it for you to pick characters that are drastically different from one another to keep the creative spark alive?
It is incredibly important for an actor to keep doing different things and not fall into the vicious circle of monotony. That is exactly why, when I hear any new script, I always ask two standard questions: “What is my role in it?” and “What is my character going to be like?” If it feels similar to anything that I have done before, and the story itself is exciting, I make a very conscious effort to change my presentation so I don’t look the same. I want to keep my creativity completely intact.
What is the one promise you want to make to your fans regarding what they will see from Vijayendra in this show?
As I’ve mentioned before, I am going to be like a tadka in this show! I will be bringing a lot of humour, action, and a very different kind of romance to the screen. Viewers are going to thoroughly enjoy it and see a completely different shade of Vijayendra Kumeria.
