EXCLUSIVE: Gurmeet Choudhary talks about being stereotyped as a TV actor; says “Producers used to ask kya aap filmon mein dikh payenge”

Actor Gurmeet Choudhary started his filmy career with the hit TV show Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan. However, he rose to fame after essaying the role of Lord Ram in Ramayan. Gurmeet garnered immense fame and love from the fans. But sometimes actors do face challenges when they get the TV tag. Talking about the same, during a chat with Bollywood Bubble, Choudhary shared how being a TV actor acted against him when he went to films.

Gurmeet Choudhary on being stereotyped

He exclusively said, “Aksar aisa hota tha mere saath jab main TV karta tha ki agar koi look pasand aagaya toh wo log zindagi bhar ke liye woi look rakhte the. Daadi hai toh daadi rakhenge, short hair pasand hai toh short hair aur woi rakhte the. Aur meri har project mein koshish yehi thi ki wo bilkul nahi karna. Hamesha kridaar ko thoda alag roop dena kyuki mera yeh manna hai ki jab aap screen pe aate ho, sabse pehele aap aate ho uske baad dialougue aata hai. Character mein body language and look alag aana chahiye. Bohot mushkil hota hamare industry mein uski aapko ussi cheez ke liye cast kiya jaata hai. As an actor, aapki responsibility hoti hai ki aap kis tarah se alag kar sakte ho. Toh uss mamle mein main thoda lucky raha hu aur alag character karne ko mila.“

(It used to happen often when I was doing TV. If someone liked a look, they would keep that look for life. If they liked a beard, they would keep a beard; if they liked short hair, they would always keep short hair. In every project, my effort was to do exactly the opposite. I always tried to give the character a slightly different appearance because I believe that when you come on screen, you appear first, and then the dialogue follows. The character’s body language and look should be distinct. It’s very difficult in our industry because you get cast for the same thing. As an actor, it’s your responsibility to see how you can make it different. In that regard, I’ve been a bit lucky and got the opportunity to play diverse characters.)

Gurmeet Choudhary on challenges of getting project after doing TV

Choudhary said, “Ye toh aksar hi hota hai. Jab main TV kar raha toh bade director aur producers bulate the, lekin ek common cheez hoti thi ki yaar aapko TV pe bohot baar dekha hai, kya filmon mein dekh paayenge. Luckily, ab wo saari cheezein badal gayi hai. Ab sabko pata chal gaya ki TV industry mein jo top actors hai, unka apna audience hai, loyal audience hai. Wo badalte nahi hai. Mere jo fans the 15 saal pehele, wo aaj bhi fan hai toh ye producer-director ko malum padh gaya par shart ye hai ki aapka jo talent hai, aapk jo karke yaha tak poche ho, kya aapko ye mila hai. Jo actor jis mein wo best hai agar wo mil jaaye toh best hai.“

(This often happens. When I was doing TV, big directors and producers would call me, but there was a common thing they would say: “We’ve seen you a lot on TV, can we see you in films?” Luckily, now all that has changed. Now everyone has realised that the top actors in the TV industry have their own audience, a loyal audience. They don’t change. The fans I had 15 years ago are still fans today, and the producers and directors have understood this. But the condition is that the talent you have, the thing that got you to this point, you need to have it. If an actor gets a role in which they are best, that’s the best.)

Watch the full interview here

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