Arjun Bijlani: Don’t want anyone to look down on my capabilities

Arjun Bijlani

There is no dearth of roles for Arjun Bijlani, but he prefers to pick and choose. The actor - who became a household name with popular shows like Left Right Left, Miley Jab Hum Tum, Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi and Naagin - took a break from fiction shows in 2019 to explore digital entertainment. Now, he is back on the small screen with Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyaya: Shiv Shakti. In conversation with mid-day, Bijlani talks about how the show is inspired by the story of Lord Shiva and Parvati, and fighting the prejudice against television actors.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyaya: Shiv Shakti is a retelling of Shiva and Shakti's story. Have you read the original story of Lord Shiva and Parvati?
As a child, I'd always watch shows based on Lord Shiva. In addition, my mother would often tell me stories about Lord Shiva. Prateek Sharma [producer] had explained [how the show is] connected to the [mythology]. That helped me a lot. I don't read a lot of mythology, but I'm religiously inclined. My mom has been insisting that I read the Bhagavad Gita. I plan to start next month.

What convinced you to come on board?
My character Shiv is a neurosurgeon, who is the best at his job. However, an incident changes him. I thought this would be a great opportunity to explore myself as an actor. I took up the role because it was challenging. Also, my mother's name is Shakti. Doing this show was a part of my destiny. Today, whatever I am, it is because of my mother. I lost my father at a crucial stage of my life. She became my shakti. I'm glad my gamble paid off.

After Ishq Mein Marjawan, did you stick to hosting shows because you were creatively saturated?
I also did State of Siege: 26/11 (2020) and Roohaniyat (2022) in the interim. Along with Shiv Shakti, I was offered another web show. But I opted for the daily soap because I felt the character gave me a wider scope for performance. Sometimes creativity is restricted in television, but that's the audience and rules you have to work with. I eventually became okay with who I am. After doing fiction for a long time, I needed a break. Because I did web shows, doesn't mean I won't do television and vice versa. I want to be an actor, who by 50, would have done it all.

The over-the-top scenes in daily soaps often make people cringe. Have you ever objected to logic-defying scenes?
I have objected to bizarre scenes. But everything is related - when you have better budgets, you get better writers. As an actor, if you keep objecting to things every day, you'll be termed unprofessional. Sometimes, [you can take] creative liberty [because] the audience, once in a while, likes those scenes. With [daily updates], how can one expect the writers to create something new? They don't have the time.

Do you get stereotyped as an actor on television?
Luckily, people call me for [web series] auditions even though I do TV. The gap between [TV and films] is reducing. A lot of actors on television are doing amazing things on the web. The day I get a big opportunity in films or a big web show, things will turn around. For instance, I played Sandeep Unnikrishnan in State of Siege, which was one of the most watched shows.

In an interview, you had said that you didn't want to play a best friend or supporting character in films. But you have a cameo in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Ideally, I want to take up a character that adds value to a film. I have proved myself in the past few years, so I deserve a substantial role. I don't want anyone to look down on my capabilities. [That said], I did a special appearance in Rocky Aur Rani… because Karan Johar called me.