Vikram Singh Chauhan has successfully explored varied character archetypes in his career and has gained appreciation for his unique choice of roles. After working in the OTT space with projects Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Raat Jawan Hai, and Sena – Guardians of the Nation, he has returned to the TV space with yet another author-backed role, that of a character facilitating social awareness regarding cybercrime. Playing Shivaay in Colors TV’s Do Duniya Ek Dil, Vikram is on the right track to winning hearts.
In an exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz.com, Vikram Singh Chauhan talks about his role, about the tech age, the real world and the digital trauma of the character.
Read on.
After a five-year hiatus from television, what specifically about Shivaay’s “unusual” and “tech-averse” character made you feel this was the right project for your return?
Around December, I had already decided that I was ready to commit to a long-format show. That’s when I had a meeting with the creative team and the Colors team with this very unique concept. The moment I heard the story, I felt that the male protagonist had a lot of depth and scope for performance. So honestly, I said yes almost immediately after the meeting.
I would have probably moved to using dumb phones if I weren’t an actor. My work requires a certain level of interaction with the audience, so being present digitally becomes a part of the profession.
How did you prepare to play a character who lives so far outside the modern digital norm?
Since I came on board at the last moment, I didn’t really get much time to prepare in advance. So I am preparing as we go, with the script in hand. A lot of what I’m bringing to the character also comes from my own life experiences growing up in a small town and living through a time when there wasn’t so much digital awareness or smartphones. That helps me connect with the world of the character quite naturally.
Shivaay believes true life happens offline. How much of his philosophy do you personally agree with, especially as an actor who uses social media to connect with fans?
True life actually happens beyond social media. As an actor, I’m not very active on it. I prefer spending time with my family and friends, travelling, and enjoying life outside of phones. To be honest, I don’t spend much time on social media.
How do you feel the audience—who is likely watching clips of your show on their phones—will react to a protagonist who actively hates the very device they are using?
I am very sure the audience will connect with Shivaay’s approach since most of us are addicted to our phones and social media, and somewhere we all know life is a better place when we are disconnected from our phones and connected to moments around us.
Do you think a person like Shivaay can exist in this tech age?
People like Shivaay do exist even in this tech-driven age, and I personally know quite a few of them. Of course, maybe not to the extent of doing everything in cash, but they consciously stay away from the unnecessary digital world — things like endlessly watching reels or spending hours on the phone.
Do you think one can strike a clever balance between both the worlds – social media and reality? How do you see this?
Some of my friends who are not from the industry are actually moving to dumb phones that only have basic features and UPI. In fact, I think I would have probably been the same if I weren’t an actor. My work requires a certain level of interaction with the audience, so being present digitally becomes a part of the profession. It’s very important to actually strike a balance for your own growth and productivity.
What are your personal expectations from the role and the show?
My only expectation is that if people connect with the concept of the show, they take out 30 minutes from their schedule and invest that time in the efforts of the entire team who have made this show with so much love and hard work.
Best of luck!!
