It’s a dream come true for me: Nakuul
While most television actors are chasing their Bollywood dreams, Nakuul Mehta, who is best known as Adi from the popular show Pyaar Ka Dard Hai, is chasing his passion for theatre. But it’s not easy to juggle between two vastly different mediums, especially when one is part of a daily TV soap. Ask him how he manages to make time, and Nakuul says, “I shoot for 17 hours a day and then rehearse for my play. I have been missing out on sleep but I feel it’s worth it.” The actor is ready with his play Cock that will be staged at the Prithvi Theatre.
“While I may be relatively new to the TV industry, theatre is something I started out with. I have performed at all venues in Mumbai except Prithvi. So this is like a dream come true for me.”
What draws Nakuul to theatre is the intensity the medium provides. “Acting on TV involves cuts, retakes and the use of glycerin. But in theatre you don’t have all that. It’s a more organic way of acting.” The actor believes that his show Pyaar Ka Dard Hai has realistic characters that the audience can easily relate to. Nakuul is amazed by the fan reactions he gets for his portrayal on the show. “Just the other day, my watchman informed me about this maid who works in my locality. She wanted to meet me and would wait near my building hoping to catch a glimpse of me. When she finally managed to meet me, she asked me if Pankhuri (my onscreen wife) also stays there,” Nakuul says with a laugh.
Adi and Pankhuri are one of TV’s most loved couples and Nakuul feels that their comfort levels offscreen, helps their chemistry onscreen too. “Disha is an introvert but it’s amazing how she is so open to suggestions. Such an actor makes work easy. She’s like a sponge, a fabulous actor. This is her debut show and she has that innocence in her. She is not yet exposed to the big bad entertainment industry and that innocence shows onscreen.”
The onscreen couple has shared several elaborate romantic sequences on the show. However, the actor clarifies that his wife Jankee has never had a problem with that. He says, “She watches the show more than I do and she is my biggest critic. Sometimes I am out at restaurants with her and I want my space. But when people come up to me, she is the one who urges me to click a picture with them saying it would make them happy. She is not the least bit affected by my romantic scenes onscreen.”
Nakuul is enjoying the monsoon splash but rues the fact that he doesn’t have enough time to spend with his wife. He feels nostalgic about the past when time was never an issue. “Jankee and I love visiting the beach during the monsoons and taking long walks together. I live near the beach but this year I haven’t found the time.” On the sets, the little time he gets, he likes to indulge in food. Nakuul says, “We are all foodies on the sets. As soon as we finish lunch we are already discussing what to have for dinner.”
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