In the blazing heat of Chandigarh, Sheizaan Khan is expected to romance his co-actor Amandeep Sandhu, deliver long dialogues with perfect emotion, and perform ‘South-style’ action sequences. But he shrugs it off, wipes his sweat, and says, “It’s all in a day’s work.”
His character Sidhu in the show Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan — a remake of the Kannada show Puttakana Makkalu — gives off a distinct Pushpa vibe. The actor admits that the makers were insistent on achieving that look and punch. “From my look to every stunt, it is designed in a way to give that look and feel,” he says.
Khan was among the first actors to come on board, but the hunt for the leading lady took a while. After scouting numerous faces, the makers locked in Sandhu. Having previously worked together on Tujhse Haii Aashiqui for Dreamiyata Dramaa’s YouTube channel, this project marks a reunion for the two. “Amandeep was the last one to come on board. I joined them in March and since then, I was waiting for the show to start. In fact, I often called them to confirm if the show was really happening because I had refused other shows for this one; and my heart would break if it didn’t happen,” he shares.
An intense hero with a brooding attitude and a soft heart is a common trope in Indian daily soaps — one that doesn’t require much preparation. Yet Khan says that before filming began in July, he focused on his physicality and action. Considering he isn’t new to action, when asked what his preparation entailed, he explains, “In my last show [Tujhse Haii Aashiqui], I played a DSP. So, I’ve done action before. However, I have always strived to ensure that my characters look different from each other. The physicality and image should never feel the same on screen. I had to lean down for the role, then I had to prep for the action to ease into it. It should flow and not look like I am making an effort.”
For reference, the actor was asked to watch at least 10 episodes of Puttakana Makkalu. “For me, the challenge was to not be exactly like him and leave my mark on the character.”
When it’s an original, there’s no point of reference, but in the case of adaptations, one has to bear the burden of comparisons and sometimes work harder. However, Khan believes that regardless of whether a show is an original or a remake, the aim is to “present the story authentically”. “It doesn’t matter if it is an original or a remake as long as you represent the story and characters well, and connect with the audience. Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan has a lot of drama, but not rona dhona. It has loads of action done by Amandeep and me. Our families are stark opposites, it’s like a clash of two worlds. So, drama is a given,” shares Khan.
With over a decade in television, life hasn’t been a bed of roses for Khan, who has faced controversies, criticism, unemployment, and at times, unpaid dues. Yet, he chooses to live in the moment. “I am happy. Of course, I won’t deny that it is very hard. But I don’t want to keep cribbing about it because I have endured being unemployed, so I know the worth [of being unemployed]. When you see the larger picture, everything else seems trivial — something I know I will forget in a few years. The challenges have made me who I am today,” Khan signs off.
22
Number ofepisodes aired so far
Did you know?
` The ‘Pushpa’-inspired look took three trials to perfect.
` Sheizaan Khan shot most fight scenes in real outdoor heat with no body doubles.
