Actor Kanwar Dhillon, who has been part of shows like The Buddy Project, Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, Piya Rangrezz, and Internet Wala Love, is currently playing the popular role of Sachin Deshmukh in Star Plus’ Udne Ki Aasha. Kanwar has portrayed various shades in his career and, fortunately, has not been typecast.
Throwing more light on this, Kanwar says, “While choosing a role, I take a little gap between projects rather than getting to work immediately. Also, I am someone who likes protagonist-oriented roles that leave an impact, like my current role as Sachin. I was actually supposed to do some other show, and Udne Ki Aasha came up at the very last minute. I just wanted to go ahead with Sachin and explore a different side of myself, so I had to let go of something that may not have given me the same kind of growth I have today. I feel it’s just about making wise choices and shaping your own career graph—deciding how you want to be seen and avoiding repetition.”
But how do you identify when you’re being offered repetitive characters, and what steps do you take to break that pattern? On this, Kanwar says, “The easiest thing you can do when you identify that an offer or role is repetitive is to simply say no. The biggest mistake we make as actors is letting the insecurities of unemployment creep in and choosing something that isn’t different from what we’ve done earlier. For me, as an actor, variation and freshness are very important, so I take a good amount of gap between shows. The gap between Udne Ki Aasha and Pandya Store was the least, as it came at a time when I was looking for something different, and my gut feeling told me to go ahead with it. The ability to say no is also very important.”
Kanwar shares that he actively chooses roles that challenge his image and allow him to explore so he can offer something different to the audience. He adds, “I like the newness and freshness of a role that keeps me going. Risk is something we all have to take in our own ways, and that’s part and parcel of our job. I take calculated risks and then jump into them. I don’t want to be bored with myself—I want to evolve, sound different, and progress, rather than stay in my comfort zone. My lineup of shows has always been different from others. It’s all about taking those risks. The only strategy is to follow your heart, plan your career well, and know where you see yourself in the next 2–3 years. I have said ‘no’ to more work than ‘yes,’ and it takes time to keep myself from being typecast.”
Kanwar has deliberately decided not to take up roles that box him into a certain image. He adds, “I have turned down a lot of projects, including web shows, that required me to be portrayed in a certain way, and I have my own discomforts with certain things. I like to do work that I believe in. Something out of the box is great, but my heart has to be in it. If I can’t imagine myself doing something, then I can’t take it up. I know how I want my journey to move forward, and that clarity is very important.”
