New Delhi, Feb 9 Rannvijay Singha says he has reached a point where he can choose roles based on his creative satisfaction, rather than just money, and he draws inspiration from movie icons Dharmendra and Dev Anand, who continued to work until the end of their careers.
The actor said that when he is older, he would like to have had a diverse career and strong friendships, just like his favorite actors, Dharmendra and Dev Anand.
"I admire people like Dharmendra Ji and Dev Anand Ji, who continued to work until their last film. We don't know if their final films were successful, but their dedication was inspiring. If I can continue to do this for a long time, it would be amazing," Singha told
Singha's breakthrough came in the early 2000s when he won the inaugural season of the adventure reality show "MTV Roadies." He then hosted the show for several seasons, while also making his acting debut in films such as "Toss: A Flip of Destiny" (2009), "London Dreams" (2009), and "Action Replayy" (2010).
At the beginning of his career, Singha was offered roles that aligned with his personality – "roles as a cool guy, a biker, or a DJ."
However, now, he has been getting opportunities to play different characters, such as a teacher in the hit series "Mismatched" or an NRI in the upcoming second season of "Kohrra."
"Initially, I did a few films. I don't know if people saw them, but the roles were mostly based on who I am in real life. I'm still that guy. But it doesn't always mean I can play any character in a film. So, when you play a different character, people say, 'Rannvijay is trying to act.' And that feels great."
Now, he is at a stage where he can choose to decline certain projects.
"The kind of work I do involves adventure, sports, and hosting. So, I can choose a role where I feel like I can act and get recognized for it. I don't have to worry about other things. Maybe I'll say no to a project that I would only do for money."
Singha stars alongside Mona Singh and Barun Sobti in "Kohrra 2," which premieres on Netflix on February 11 with a new storyline.
He plays one of the key suspects in the new investigation, which centers on the murder of a woman found dead in her brother's barn. Sobti reprises his role as Amarpal Jasjit Garundi from the previous season, while Singh joins him as his senior, Dhanwant Kaur.
"I was really happy to get this opportunity. And the role is different. Whenever I choose a role to play, I hope that if a fan or someone who knows me sees it, they will say, 'He's doing something different or he's doing a good job'," Singha said about his new role.
The actor said he was a fan of the first season of the Sudip Sharma-created series and wanted to work with the writer.
"I was very excited when I got a call for it because I have been wanting to work with Sudip sir. All the work that he has done resonates with me. We have similar sensitivities, the kind of stuff that we watch. I didn't know how big or small the role was, but I had made up my mind that if I do well in the audition and get an offer, I will 100 per cent say yes, without seeing the script."
Even though the scenes and the show's subject were intense, the working environment was positive and fun, the actor added.
"It was after a couple of days, when my heavy scenes were over, that I felt instant satisfaction. The first two days were tough for me. And I realized the team is very efficient."
"They've already worked together. The first season was successful. So, the team was very confident and joyous while working on serious and intense projects."
Asked if he feels he is finally at the right place in the industry, Singha said, "For me, every achievement feels like a little victory.
"I was going to the army in 2003. I was going to the academy. And the reason I didn't go is because I wanted to see if I could have an adventurous life, ride bikes, and do that outside of the army. That happened on the first season of 'Roadies.'
"Sometimes I bite my tongue when I say, 'I can't believe that this is our life and our work. Hope it doesn’t get jinxed.' So, am I at the right place? Am I in the right profession? Do I feel stuck? No, I feel I'm lucky that I was traveling the world at 21-22, getting paid for hosting shows. I'm getting to do a role, it's crazy. So, are we in the right place? 100 per cent. Have we made it? I think that's a continuous process."
"Kohrra" also features Anuraag Arora, Pooja Bhamrrah, and Prayrak Menta in important roles. It is produced by Sharma alongside Saurabh Malhotra, Manuj Mittra, and Tina Tharwani.
Sharma has co-created and co-written the series with Gunjit Chopra and Diggi Sisodia.