After IPS Zakir Siddiqui in ‘Diya Aur Baati Hum’ and DCP Virat Chavan in ‘Gum Hai Kisi Ke Pyaar’, TV actor Neil Bhatt is now going to play the role of IPS Arjun in ‘Megha Barsenge’. Neil has also been a part of Bigg Boss 17, from here he has also achieved the title of Ideal Husband. In an exclusive conversation with Aaj Tak, Neil talked about his upcoming serial Megha Barsenge, social service love and going to Bigg Boss as a couple.
Neil’s character in ‘Megha Barsenge’ serial?
Arjun is a young IAS officer. Apart from being a funny person, he is also very logical. To achieve his goals he can even go beyond his limits. He talks only on logic rather than emotions, and if anyone appears too emotional, he will make fun of that person. Sometimes he crosses his limits, but he will say sorry just as quickly. This character is very different from me.
Neil is playing the role of a public service officer for the fourth time, his suppressed desire fulfilled?
I don’t know how I am getting such roles. I am also doing it. But I attract so much that I can play the roles of officers and I am doing it too. I am thankful that there are roles where there is a uniform or a job or a role with dignity. I am very happy to do such characters. This is not my personal choice, but if I am getting offers then I cannot refuse because those stories are good. There is dignity of an IAS officer so Arjun (Megha Barsenge’s character) lives in it but also has a lot of fun. There is also an incident from his childhood, due to which he is like this.
Is ‘Arjun’ a mirror of Neil who emerged as an ideal husband from Bigg Boss?
I try not to mix my personal and professional life. Whatever I am, I am in my personal life. Now whatever this is is a serial. Neel is not Arjun, Arjun is not Neel. I don’t know why we give tags, these are very heavy tags, I don’t take them lightly. This is the love of the fans. I don’t believe that I am perfect.
Actors who are calling TV industry regressive, have they quit? Neil expressed his opinion
I do not think so. Perhaps the content of the projects to which he said yes would be similar and that is why he might have felt like this. Thankfully, the projects I got or were a part of were not like this. There have been many such projects which addressed that regressive issue, worked with the aim that those things should not happen in the society. If the objective of a project is to prevent such regressive things from happening in our society, then it is not bad. Now if there is a tradition prevalent in the society and the show is based on it, then it does not mean that the show is regressive, rather that tradition is regressive. We are trying to unite the society through the show. Those shows also have the same objective. So it’s not that I don’t understand it.
I am happy to be a part of such shows, I have been a part of many such shows, I am proud. I can’t say that I don’t want to do it, obviously I have to do it. I am an artist so I want to be a part of every medium. So I don’t just want to do TV, I want to do web shows, films, everything. But I do not believe that all the content is regressive, those who think it is regressive, that is their thinking.
What new will ‘Megha Barsenge’ serve to the audience, the old story is visible?
I played the role of a police officer thrice but all three serials were hits. The audience liked me. People gave a lot of love. Similarly, even though the story may seem similar on the surface, when you look at it, you will realize that it is very different. Its presentation is different, cast is different, location is different, theme is different. Some things in all of our lives match in some way or the other, but they are not the same, similarly you may feel that the story of the serial is old, but it is not. The story of Ghum Hai Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein was also a love triangle which has been going on for centuries, but people liked it, there is a way of telling a story, with which people relate.
Neil dominates Bigg Boss, no longer watches the show
Neil, who was a part of Bigg Boss 7, had entered the reality show as a couple with his wife Aishwarya Sharma. There was a lot of talk about the couple. However, Neil has now distanced himself from this show. While talking about this show, he refused to comment on any contestant. He said- I neither used to watch Bigg Boss earlier, nor do I watch it today. I have told this. I never expressed interest in that show. I have been in that show but being in it and watching from outside are two different things.
Talking about Megha Barsenge serial, it will soon be aired on Colors channel from 6th August at 7 pm.