'It is not an easy job, but it is exciting', says Amar Upadhyay on turning producer

Amar Upadhyay

Having worked in the entertainment industry for close to three decades, Amar Upadhyay always aspired to be behind the camera. While it took time for his dreams to materialise, he claims that the wait was worth the effort. The actor, who began his career on television with the sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh, became a household name with his portrayal of Mihir Virani in Ekta Kapoor's daily soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Upadhyay, who turned producer with his company Hawk Eye Vision, recently launched his first daily soap, Kyunkii Tum Hi Ho, also starring Priyanka Dhawale and Haarsh Nagar.

"It was a natural process since I have been an actor for a long time. It is not that I had not tried my hand at production earlier, but nothing concrete materialised. When I got a good story, I approached the channel. They loved the concept, my narration, the character arcs, and insisted that I be part of the project as an actor too," says Upadhyay, who initially had misgivings about fulfilling his duties as both actor and producer. A few days on the set and the actor realised that the job at hand - with the right team - would get easier. "I have a good team supporting me. Everyone is experienced, and I am adept at handling finances. I am on the set for 25 days a month. The coordination and collaboration are easy. We have everything organised and planned in advance to the last detail," explained the actor, adding that he learnt a lot on the job. From managing the costume, to handling the dates, art work, sets, script, and daily operations, there was always something to learn. "There is a lot of hard work involved in production. It is not an easy job, but it is exciting."

Upadhyay with Priyanka Dhawale and Haarsh Nagar in Kyunkii Tum Hi Ho

Kyunkii Tum Hi Ho is the story of Kavya (played by Dhawale), who hails from a middle-class family in a small town. She has big dreams. In her journey to achieving them, she faces several hindrances, but still manages to tackle them one by one. "It is a zero to hero story of a strong girl," says Upadhyay.

Also Read: Amar Upadhyay's Kyunkii Tum Hi Ho turns out to be a blockbuster and the first show to open with the highest ratings on the channel

The actor believes that while OTT is ruling the roost in the market, television is not affected by the stiff competition. "Good stories will always find space. [Having said that], I believe OTT has affected films as no one is going to theatres these days. I thought COVID would affect television, but we have been [lucky because of] our audience," he says.