TV star Mohit Malik talks about his work in the second season of the Sony LIV web series Chamak and the importance of striking a balance between work and personal life.
The Sony LIV series Chamak Season 1 received a positive response. Are you excited about Season 2?
Mohit Malik: I am very excited. Season 2 is the best part of the show. The main conflict is happening in it, which is more interesting and intense. There’s a lot of entertainment, revenge and new songs. My character Guru has gone through a complete transformation. Chamak Season 1 deserved every bit of applause it received. A lot of hard work had gone into it. My director (Rohit Jugraj) wanted to give a message and that’s why he made it. The message that no artist should be killed was very loud and clear.
How has your character Guru evolved in Season 2?
Mohit Malik: He is a very soft, overly sensitive and emotional character. Guru always has a thing to prove to his dad and there are certain things and events that happen in Season 2 where Guru is forced to evolve. Guru is gay and that’s his personal life but whatever happens with him in Season 2 is something that reveals the real him. I was lucky to have played this character. The only reason I took it up was for the character graph — how he changes, the situations that force him to evolve and how he takes charge of his life and family.
You are also working on Abhishek Kapoor’s next, which will mark your debut in films…
Mohit Malik: Yes, I am working on that film. The shoot is done. It will be released in the latter half of the year. It’s my first film and I am very excited.
You have explored TV and OTT and now you are getting into films. How different is it working in the three mediums?
Mohit Malik: For me, honestly, the only difference between TV, OTT and films is the time you get for preparation. On the day of the shoot and on the sets, I don’t think there is any difference. It’s the same everywhere. I know how to be on a set and perform on a set when I’m playing a character. The process is almost the same. It is just about the preparation time, which is different. For TV there is no bound script, and for OTT and films there is a bound script. For TV, you begin a show and it can go anywhere.
What is your usual process of preparation for any character?
Mohit Malik: My usual process is to understand the psyche of the character. The character is essentially the unconscious mind. What we are today, whatever values we have towards life, it is all there in your unconscious. You instinctively react to things in life. Playing the character is like becoming the character and for that you have to be real.
How do you balance work and family time?
Mohit Malik: Whatever time I get and whenever I am home, I don’t feel like watching anything. I feel like spending time with my family and my kid. They also don’t let me see anything. That’s a different story! (Laughs) After I come back home, I just spend time with my family. Whenever I get time, I take them out and travel. Balance between work and life is very essential for all of us. Otherwise you will do well neither at work nor in life. You have to strike a balance between the two. If my work and personal life are not balanced, I will not be able to be a good actor. Art and acting are derived from life. If I am not living life, I cannot grow as an actor.
Is there a challenging role that you want to play or is on your wishlist?
Mohit Malik: There is no such dream. But there are real-life characters that I want to play. I really want to play Bhagat Singh because I have read about him and he is one of the greatest figures in Indian history. I would love to play somebody like him who has done something for the country, or any freedom fighter for that matter.
Any role is a dream and I should be able to play it to my full ability and play it convincingly. I want to evolve with every character and do full justice to it.
What is next for you?
Mohit Malik: Let’s see what comes up. I am waiting for the release of Chamak 2 and Abhishek Kapoor’s film.
