Actor Shiv Pandit was best known for acting in the popular TV serial, F.I.R and made his transition to Bollywood with a role in Shaitan in 2011. He was even nominated for the Filmfare Best Male Debut award for this role.
Now, two years later, he plays the second lead in Boss, opposite Akshay Kumar and as Aditi Rao Hydari‘s love interest.
In an exclusive interview with Team MissMalini, Shiv Pandit tells us what it was like romancing Aditi, acting with Akki and whether he will ever go back to television.
Listen in….
Here are some highlights from his interview:
Team MM: What is your role in Boss?
Shiv: I play a parallel lead in the film, opposite Akshay Kumar. I am the romantic lead and Aditi Rao Hydari is my romantic interest. My relationship with Aditi gives rise to conflicts and to resolve these conflicts, Akshay Kumar steps in.
Team MM: How was your chemistry with Aditi?
Shiv: Aditi has no hang-ups. There was no ice to break. We hit it off from day one and we got along pretty well.
Team MM: What have you learnt from Akshay Kumar while shooting for the film?
Shiv: I think I’ve learnt professionalism and humility. The thing about Akshay Kumar is that he never had to enforce his super star status upon me. It took him a couple of months to open up to me. What I have with him is a very real relationship.
Team MM: How did you prepare for your role in Boss?
Shiv: I actually didn’t have to prepare for the role in any way. I just had to make my body lean because they didn’t want someone muscular or bulky for this film. Other than that, they just wanted me to bring my own personality out.
Team MM: How difficult was your Bollywood journey?
Shiv: I had to have a lot of patience. I was rejected many times. I was told, “Get out!” Post my leaving F.I.R, I hosted the first season of the IPL and after that, I had to sit at home for two years because all the work that was coming my way was not the kind of work which I wanted to do.
Team MM: Do you still want to act in TV serials?
Shiv: It’s not the medium that matters. It’s the project that should relate to you. I can’t relate to most of the TV shows that come on television today. But if something good presents itself, then why not?
Pix: Ranjit Rodricks for MissMalini