Neil Bhatt tells Jyothi Venkatesh that acting is about make believe and not telling a lie… Neil Bhatt, who is playing the lead in the new show Jo Ishq ki Marzi Woh Rab Ki Marzi slated to go on air shortly on Sahara One does not have regrets that he had made his debut in television with Aslaan, which was yanked off air after sixteen episodes of the show were telecast. “I am proud of the serial Aslaan. I am what I am today only because of Aslaan. Shakti Sagar who had produced Aslaan cast me in Jo Ishq ki Marzi Who Rab Ki Marzi only because he was happy with my performance in Aslaan though it was yanked off air. What more could a new comer like me ask for?” asks Neil Bhatt when I meet him on the sets of the show in Phaltan.
What is your role in Jo Ishq Ki Marzi, Who Rab Ki Marzi? I ask Neil. Pat comes the reply, “I play the character of Sumer who is madly in love with Sunaina. Sumer is a complete contradiction to Sunaina. I relate to the role 100%, because I like Neil in real life too. Except that I have not fallen in love with any girl till date. He is in complete awe of his father and will never question his father’s decision. Sumer is passionate about music and his flute mesmerizes every one who listens to him playing it. As a kid, Sunaina used to love to play to his tune”
Neil concedes that acting is inborn but yet admits that he did join Namit Kapoor’s Acting School to learn the technical aspects of acting, because as he puts it succinctly, “If you do not have the talent, no one on this earth can teach you how to act.”
Neil says that it doubly tough as an actor to play Sumer because the basic need of the character is to talk more through his eyes and project softness in a big way. I make it a point to read the script again and again before I set out to face the camera for the shot”, he quips.
Neil adds. “The childhood sweethearts are torn apart by the cruel hands of destiny but meet one another again after ten years at a gurukul, unaware of each other’s identity, when love rekindles in their young hearts and gives rise to a passion that will challenge the decade old enmity between their two families. While Aslaan was a fantasy, Jo Ishq Ki Marzi Who Rab Ki Marzi is more realistic.”
Neil’s father is a lawyer and Neil also is studying for law. Do you want to end up as a lawyer or a lier, considering the fact that an actor has to lie when he sets out to mouth his lines by assuming various characters? I ask Neil. Neil shoots back, “Acting is a make believe job and is not about telling any lie. I am studying in the fourth year in Government Law College”, quips Neil, who wants to become a lawyer some day, though he is interested in both acting in films as well as filmmaking.”
Neil is of the opinion that education is something which will always stand by him in good stead. “Today every actor is well educated. Those days when only school drop outs used to become stars are gone. It is a fact that both my father as well as my grand father were keen on taking up acting as a career but our unfortunately could not get a break at that point of time.
Neil loves not only music but also dancing, besides acting. One of his aims is to explore himself as an actor and work in action oriented roles in Hollywood too, besides Bollywood. “I am a crazy fan of Aamir Khan and wish I could play a role like he is playing in his forthcoming action packed film Ghajini”, quips Neil, who is of the opinion that a show like Jo Ishq Ki Marzi Woh Rab Ki Marzi will actually set out to change the face of Indian television.
Neil is happy with the way he has been blossoming as an actor. “I got the opportunity to start acting by sporting the look of a super hero in Aslaan, which was my very first serial as an actor. Now in my second serial Jo Ishq Ki Marzi, Woh Rab Ki Marzi, I am glad that I am now getting an opportunity to play a romantic hero.”
If the need arises, Neil says that he is ready to adapt any look which suits the character that he is required to play in any serial. Today I am just 21. I want to be just according to the character. I do not need to project the 4 packs abs or 6 packs abs looks at this stage of my career. I just want to be a fit person now.”
