Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Barun Sobti in Conversation with Eastern Eye - Text Version
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THE fact that Barun Sobti was third in Eastern Eye’s popular 50 Sexiest Asian Men list for 2013 speaks volumes for the actor’s immense appeal and loyal fan base. The love he commands is all the more remarkable when you consider that he has not been seen on screen for over a year. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the enigmatic actor to make the transition from television to cinema full time, and with a number of high-profile films on the way, his natu- ral talent, a striking presence and pro- ducers lining up to sign him, Barun is destined to be a big cinematic star. Eastern Eye gave some of Barun’s biggest fans on Twitter an opportunity to ask him questions about everything from his daily life to professional ca- reer. The charming actor took time out of a busy schedule to answer them.
@Tiapie: You have not been seen on screen for the past year, but your fans have stood with you through thick and thin. How do you feel about that?
(Smiles) I have been really grateful for this. They have supported me every time and I would really thank them. I hope they will keep supporting me like this always and I promise they will see me very soon doing some good work.
@arushi_93: Do you intend to return to the small screen any time soon?
I don’t make any plans because if they don’t work out, what’s the point? I don’t know, I just take life as it comes. I have always been open to television and if anything really good comes up I will surely do that.
@kittengirl_1: How do you define happiness?
Happiness for me is spending time with my family.
@Dhwaniforum: How do you practice dialogue delivery and do you need cheat-sheets?
I haven’t practiced dialogue delivery. I believe in the char- acter I am playing and the line comes easily.
@sajju_sobti: You have played many roles until now, but which one is close to you and why?
I relate more with Shravan from Baat Humari Pakki Hain. As a person I am more like him, but Arnav Singh Raizada [my character in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon] was also very close to my heart as it was a challenge that I took up. I had to believe in the character who was so opposite to what I am.
@Being_hosna: Which is the most memorable moment for you as an actor?
On my last day of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, all the technicians and spot boys wanted to hug me. They said they had never seen an actor who was so popular and grounded at the same time. That really overwhelmed me. Also, I think an actor’s job is to surprise the audience, but I managed to surprise my directors a few times instead. Directors usually know the plots better than the actors, so surprising my directors is memorable for me as an actor.
@Sandyy_Dunes: If you were to act in a remake of Pyaasa, Guide or Sholay, which would you chose and why?
I would love to do Sholay as I really loved the film and Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra were awesome in that. It was and always will be the movie I look up to.
@moumita03: What was the first thing you bought with your first salary and for whom?
I was 16 years old and had to buy a gift for my wife who was my girlfriend then. So I worked at my brother’s car showroom, got paid `2,000 (£19.70) and I bought her a present.
@angelrima3: By what name did your par- ents call you at home (pet name) when you were a kid or even now?
My nickname was the currency of the USSR – everyone used to call me Rouble. But then the country split and the currency crashed, so fi- nally everyone started calling me Barun.
@kpate_k: During your struggling days, what or who kept you going and how important is luck in shaping a career?
My family, and especially my father, kept me going. He was always there with me and be- lieved in my acting skills. Luck is definitely im- portant along with lots of hard work – they both go hand in hand.
@Sobtihollic: How are films different from TV?
For me, facing the camera is exactly the same. I mean it’s different for the director of pho- tography, the director, for the continuity team, but I think for an actor it’s the same.
@sanamsky1: If you weren’t an actor what would you be right now?
I don’t know what I would be doing if not an actor. (Thinks) I guess I would have been at the company I was working at be- fore, but I would have liked to be a football coach for kids.
@arshiipkknd: What type of student were you at school?
(Laughs) I was not a very naughty kid, but yes, I played pranks and luckily for me, my teachers used to love me a lot.
@adaaliz: Which look do you prefer for youself – clean-shaven, with a stubble or a beard?
I am quite lazy so I like my bearded look.
@sirish_pak: What is the most posi- tive thing about you and what negative trait do you wish to overcome?
I am quite happy with myself. I am not saying that I am perfect but I am very con- tent with the way I am.
@Jpjinadari 21: Who or what inspir- ed you to become an actor?
Nobody in- spired me to act. I was working at a telecom com- pany when my friend talked me into acting. I just believed I could act or try acting. He showed some of my pic- tures to a casting guy in Mumbai and suddenly I got a call for a show on Star Plus. That’s how I came into the acting profession.
@Affffyy: Who is your idol or mentor, someone you look up to in terms of acting?
I really want to work with Mr Amitabh Bachchan one day. He is someone I look up to and al- ways have done.
@Sarunarshiholic: How would you describe your Iss Pyaar Ko co- star and friend Sanaya Irani?
She was a lovely co-star to work with. She is a very good actor and a very fun- loving girl.
@PaulSaRunDr- ish: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?
I would choose invisibil- ity. I often find it dif- ficult to walk into places with a lot of people because of my shy nature. Being invisible would help.
@aleena_abid: Which moment from your past would you want to live again?
The crazy days with my friends – those are my most memorable days (from the past).
@sobtian_hamesha: How did you feel when you signed your first autograph?
I am always so awkward signing autographs. I signed my first autograph during Baat Hamari Pakki Hai and I was so self-conscious that the still photographer on the set took pictures of my ex- pression. But I always try to convince fans to take pictures with me instead of asking for an auto- graph as my handwriting is very bad.
@Mahezabeen: You are known for your laid-back, humble and chilled-out personality. Is it a result of your upbringing?
You are what the people around you make you. I think they and my family give me a reality check every now and then. The good thing is my folks and my wife, they are proud of me in the right way. They are proud, but they wouldn’t go out show- ing off. They are just content and hap- py to shower their love on me.
@KiranPriety: Many TV actors are doing Punjabi cinema. It is expand- ing now, so would you ever consid- er doing a Punjabi movie?
If something good comes up, then why not?
@TeamBARUN: What’s the best thing about being Barun Sobti?
(Smiles) I have no idea.
@angel_rainbow: What does Barun do to de-stress?
I don’t need to de-stress actu- ally. I believe I will get what I deserve and nothing more or less than that.
@Telzz321: Can you give a message to your fans?
I just want to thank them all and will ask them to keep me in their prayers always.
@Tiapie: You have not been seen on screen for the past year, but your fans have stood with you through thick and thin. How do you feel about that?
(Smiles) I have been really grateful for this. They have supported me every time and I would really thank them. I hope they will keep supporting me like this always and I promise they will see me very soon doing some good work.
@arushi_93: Do you intend to return to the small screen any time soon?
I don’t make any plans because if they don’t work out, what’s the point? I don’t know, I just take life as it comes. I have always been open to television and if anything really good comes up I will surely do that.
@kittengirl_1: How do you define happiness?
Happiness for me is spending time with my family.
@Dhwaniforum: How do you practice dialogue delivery and do you need cheat-sheets?
I haven’t practiced dialogue delivery. I believe in the char- acter I am playing and the line comes easily.
@sajju_sobti: You have played many roles until now, but which one is close to you and why?
I relate more with Shravan from Baat Humari Pakki Hain. As a person I am more like him, but Arnav Singh Raizada [my character in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon] was also very close to my heart as it was a challenge that I took up. I had to believe in the character who was so opposite to what I am.
@Being_hosna: Which is the most memorable moment for you as an actor?
On my last day of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, all the technicians and spot boys wanted to hug me. They said they had never seen an actor who was so popular and grounded at the same time. That really overwhelmed me. Also, I think an actor’s job is to surprise the audience, but I managed to surprise my directors a few times instead. Directors usually know the plots better than the actors, so surprising my directors is memorable for me as an actor.
@Sandyy_Dunes: If you were to act in a remake of Pyaasa, Guide or Sholay, which would you chose and why?
I would love to do Sholay as I really loved the film and Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra were awesome in that. It was and always will be the movie I look up to.
@moumita03: What was the first thing you bought with your first salary and for whom?
I was 16 years old and had to buy a gift for my wife who was my girlfriend then. So I worked at my brother’s car showroom, got paid `2,000 (£19.70) and I bought her a present.
@angelrima3: By what name did your par- ents call you at home (pet name) when you were a kid or even now?
My nickname was the currency of the USSR – everyone used to call me Rouble. But then the country split and the currency crashed, so fi- nally everyone started calling me Barun.
@kpate_k: During your struggling days, what or who kept you going and how important is luck in shaping a career?
My family, and especially my father, kept me going. He was always there with me and be- lieved in my acting skills. Luck is definitely im- portant along with lots of hard work – they both go hand in hand.
@Sobtihollic: How are films different from TV?
For me, facing the camera is exactly the same. I mean it’s different for the director of pho- tography, the director, for the continuity team, but I think for an actor it’s the same.
@sanamsky1: If you weren’t an actor what would you be right now?
I don’t know what I would be doing if not an actor. (Thinks) I guess I would have been at the company I was working at be- fore, but I would have liked to be a football coach for kids.
@arshiipkknd: What type of student were you at school?
(Laughs) I was not a very naughty kid, but yes, I played pranks and luckily for me, my teachers used to love me a lot.
@adaaliz: Which look do you prefer for youself – clean-shaven, with a stubble or a beard?
I am quite lazy so I like my bearded look.
@sirish_pak: What is the most posi- tive thing about you and what negative trait do you wish to overcome?
I am quite happy with myself. I am not saying that I am perfect but I am very con- tent with the way I am.
@Jpjinadari 21: Who or what inspir- ed you to become an actor?
Nobody in- spired me to act. I was working at a telecom com- pany when my friend talked me into acting. I just believed I could act or try acting. He showed some of my pic- tures to a casting guy in Mumbai and suddenly I got a call for a show on Star Plus. That’s how I came into the acting profession.
@Affffyy: Who is your idol or mentor, someone you look up to in terms of acting?
I really want to work with Mr Amitabh Bachchan one day. He is someone I look up to and al- ways have done.
@Sarunarshiholic: How would you describe your Iss Pyaar Ko co- star and friend Sanaya Irani?
She was a lovely co-star to work with. She is a very good actor and a very fun- loving girl.
@PaulSaRunDr- ish: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?
I would choose invisibil- ity. I often find it dif- ficult to walk into places with a lot of people because of my shy nature. Being invisible would help.
@aleena_abid: Which moment from your past would you want to live again?
The crazy days with my friends – those are my most memorable days (from the past).
@sobtian_hamesha: How did you feel when you signed your first autograph?
I am always so awkward signing autographs. I signed my first autograph during Baat Hamari Pakki Hai and I was so self-conscious that the still photographer on the set took pictures of my ex- pression. But I always try to convince fans to take pictures with me instead of asking for an auto- graph as my handwriting is very bad.
@Mahezabeen: You are known for your laid-back, humble and chilled-out personality. Is it a result of your upbringing?
You are what the people around you make you. I think they and my family give me a reality check every now and then. The good thing is my folks and my wife, they are proud of me in the right way. They are proud, but they wouldn’t go out show- ing off. They are just content and hap- py to shower their love on me.
@KiranPriety: Many TV actors are doing Punjabi cinema. It is expand- ing now, so would you ever consid- er doing a Punjabi movie?
If something good comes up, then why not?
@TeamBARUN: What’s the best thing about being Barun Sobti?
(Smiles) I have no idea.
@angel_rainbow: What does Barun do to de-stress?
I don’t need to de-stress actu- ally. I believe I will get what I deserve and nothing more or less than that.
@Telzz321: Can you give a message to your fans?
I just want to thank them all and will ask them to keep me in their prayers always.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Barun worked for Jindal Telecom prior to becoming an actor.
- He went to school in Paschim Vihar in Delhi, where he met his wife Pashmeen.
- Barun’s name regularly trends across Twitter, includ- ing during the voting of EE’s 50 Sexiest Asian Men list.
- He became the first-ever TV star to feature in the top five of the popular annual list of sexy Asian men around the world, when he came third in 2013.
- Barun is actively involved in sports like football and cricket.
- The actor is normally seen off-screen sporting either a ban- dana, hat or hairband.
- The Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon star’s forthcoming films in- clude Main Aur Mr Riight and 22 Yards.
- Such was the popularity of Barun’s interview in People mag- azine that the issue sold out and the publication was forced to organise a meet-and-greet with fans.
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