One interesting trait is that my character on the show is that…, reveals Amit Soni | EXCLUSIVE

Whenever anyone utters the name ‘Amit Soni’, one of always reminded of an ever-cheerful face that has become nothing less than a family member, courtesy, Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey. Terms like dedication and sincerity have always been his middle name.

Desimartini caught up with Amit Soni for an exclusive interview. Here’s presenting the first part of the freewheeling interview!

Hey Amit! Your show Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey has gained a lot of popularity. Looking back a bit, can you tell us as to what made you choose this show, and how did you prepare for your role?
When I was initially approached for Wagle Ki Duniya, the makers were a bit confused about whether I would be able to do it or not. That itself felt like a challenge to me, convincing them that I could do this role. I found that aspect fascinating, and since this was a challenging role, it fascinated me even more. My character, Harshad, is aggressive, outspoken, yet kind-hearted. He has a unique style of talking and approaching people.

Carry on…
One interesting trait is that my character on the show is that of a man who always has a mouth freshener. Normally, in shows, characters who chew mawa speak and spit, but here, it’s the opposite, he doesn’t spit, and his wife translates for him. I found this aspect particularly fascinating and felt that playing this character would be exciting and challenging. As for preparing for the role, in the beginning, it was a bit difficult to get it just right.

Were there or weren’t there any trials and errors in the process?
Oh Yes! There were multiple trials and errors. One of the producers and makers of the show, Atish Kapadia, helped me a lot. He would literally explain things to me in detail, guiding me on how to approach the character. After multiple trials and a lot of practice, I finally got it right. This role is quite different from regular ones, and I felt it would be a lot of fun to portray.

What has been the most challenging aspect of working on Wagle Ki Duniya?
There are many stories in the show, and the characters are very aggressive. So, it takes a lot of effort to properly justify the stories and give them justice because the structure of Wagle Ki Duniya is very different. There are new stories every 2-3 episodes, and each story has a different flavor. It’s like a film, every 2-3 episodes feel like a complete movie. Each time, there are different characters and different s of roles. Obviously, Harshad has to play different types of characters. So, it’s definitely challenging.

The show focuses on family and societal issues that many people experience in their daily lives. How do you think these themes resonate with today’s audience?
The social causes and small problems of the common man are the key factors of the world of Wagle. Wagle-1 and Wagle-2 are the same. Obviously, it used to connect with the audience and still does. The reason for this is that it triggers the daily life of the common man.

It triggers the daily life of the common man and his small problems. In earlier times, the problems had similar solutions. In modern times, there are modern solutions. Even if Wagle-3 is made, it will continue. As long as the common man exists, shows like Wagle will continue. It will continue to connect with the audience.

Who have been the people or mentors who have shaped your career in the entertainment industry?
First of all, my father has been my biggest supporter. He never questioned my choices or told me not to pursue my dreams, he always stood by me. I still remember, about 25-30 years ago, there was no social media or mobile phones like we have today. Back then, audition announcements would come in newspapers, and these auditions were mostly held in proper town areas.

My father used to take me to these auditions, either by train or on a two-wheeler. He struggled alongside me, and his support has been constant throughout my journey, even to this day. Apart from him, there have been many other people who have helped me along the way. When I started in theatre, I had friends who supported me a lot. Later, when I transitioned to television, many people guided me and shaped my career.

Can you give an example or two …
There are the eternal Atish Bhai and JD, who have played a significant role in my journey. I have had a long-standing association with them, and it was through them that I got my entry into television. I still remember when I initially worked on Khichdi-1, Atish Bhai noticed me and saw some potential in me. He gave me a small role, and I performed exactly as he instructed. He was happy with my work, and from there, I started getting more small cameo roles. Many people have contributed to my journey, but if I had to name the biggest influences in the television industry, it would undoubtedly be JD and Atish Bhai.

⁠What s of roles are you interested in exploring in the future? Is there a particular genre or character you’re excited to play?
Yes, I obviously enjoy playing different roles, and I would love to explore more. Every actor has a certain body language and a comfort zone, but when a role comes along that requires stepping out of that comfort zone, it naturally becomes challenging. And I believe that if an actor gets such a role, they should definitely take it on.
 

For example, my character Harshad, who constantly chews mouth fresheners, is aggressive, and has a distinct body language, is very different from who I am in real life. There might be a slight resemblance, maybe around 10%, but the remaining 90% requires effort and hard work to shape the character properly. Similarly, I have played many different roles. When I portrayed a negative character in Tujhse Hai Raabta, it had a completely different flavor, it was a hardcore negative role.

The joy of stepping out of the comfort zone is something else entirely. In the future, I pray to God that I get to play a variety of different roles. Obviously, in our television industry or anywhere else, casting happens quickly. If someone does comedy, they often continue doing comedy. But there is always the capacity to explore beyond that. There’s a trend that if you are typecast, you are expected to keep doing similar roles, especially in comedy.

In your journey so far, you have never been cast…
Yes! That’s true. I have not been typecast yet, and that’s something I really appreciate. I enjoy doing humor, but I can also perform dramatic and emotional roles, and I love exploring all of them. In the future, I want to go beyond my comfort zone. For example, I am 42-43 years old, but if I get the role of a 60-70-year-old man, it would be a challenging and interesting experience. Similarly, if I were to play the role of a special child, it would be a unique challenge. All these roles push me beyond my comfort zone. They are challenging and captivating, and that is what excites me, I want to take on such roles.

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