Gurmeet Choudhary: TV is home, I am not closed to it!

In an interview the telly heart-throb talks about his Bollywood debut and how he hasn’t turned his back on TV

With his very first serial Ramayan, Gurmeet Choudhary became a popular name. His next Geet Hui Sabse Parayi had the girls swooning over his stubbled look and ripped body. Punar Vivah established him as the silent romantic hero. Three serials, three hits. Not to mention reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in which he emerged the winner and Khatron ke Khiladi 5 that saw him at his adventurous best. Clearly, Gurmeet who came to Mumbai as a 19-year-old boy with dreams of becoming a film actor, had moulded himself into the perfect Bolly hero. And, now having signed a three-film deal with Vishesh Films, Gurmeet is ready with his debut film Khamoshiyan. Here the actor talks about his journey and his dream coming true.

Did you always want to be a film actor?

Of course. I hail from an army background and I came to Mumbai with the dream of becoming a film actor. But since I had nobody from films in my family, I was a bit lost. One day I managed to meet Yash Chopra. It was he who guided me to do TV. I was 18-19-years-old then and Yashji gave me the example of Shah Rukh Khan. He said, ‘SRK se bada example kya hai. He has come from TV. Why don’t you also do TV and make a name for yourself there first’. That’s how I started doing serials.

You have done three serials and all have been hits..

Yes. I was determined to approach every role that I did with sincerity and put 200 per cent efforts into it. I worked on my look, body, body language, character, etc. My motto was no matter how many shows I do, I should look different in each one of them. People should be able to identify the serial just by my look. When I played Ram, I worked on my physique to make it a little bulky because he was a king. I grew my hair long, and as Ram is antaryami, he is always calm and composed. I worked on getting a serene smile, that was a part of Ram. For my role as Maan in Geet Huyi Sabse Parayi, I grew a stubble, and got a lean look. Maan was an arrogant business tycoon and my body language projected that. As Yash in Punarvivah I changed my look again. Every serial I dealt with as though I am doing a film. That a film producer or director may be watching the show was always at the back of my mind.

Is that how you finally got the film offer?

Yes, and I am grateful to Mukeshji’s (Bhatt) wife for that. She had watched me in serials and had been telling Mukeshji that I deserve to be in films. She was suggesting that he give me a break! I met them once at an award function and said hello. That’s when Mukeshji actually saw me. At another event in South Africa, I won the Best Actor award in TV, while Ranbir Kapoor was chosen the Best Actor in films. Mohit Suri gave me my trophy and Mukeshji congratulated me. Within a week, I got an offer from them. I was on cloud nine!

Every actor wants to make a film debut with a love story. Didn’t you have apprehensions about starting with a supernatural thriller like Khamoshiyan?

Even when I was doing TV everybody would tell me that I should make my debut with Vishesh Films because they are known for their songs as well as story. They would say, ‘Gaana hit hona chahiye then the actor lip-syncing to it also becomes a hit!’ That apart, Khamoshiyan has romance, drama and performance. My character Jaidev Dharajgir is charming and as powerful as his name. And, I think like Aashiqui 2 the music of Khamoshiyan will be a hit. People are already raving about the title track. For years, I was lip-syncing to others’ songs and I would wonder mujhe mera gaana kab milega? When I had to lip-sync for my first song in the film, it gave me a different kind of high and happiness.

You have proved yourself as a dancer with Jhalak Dikhhla Ja. Were you always good at it?

I used to get prizes in school and at events. I was inspired by Shah Rukh Khan’s energy and Govinda’s style of dancing. But it was only after I did Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa that I learned different forms, Zumba, Rumba, Hiphop, etc. This is going to help me in my film career.

We heard that your wife Debina Bonnerjee has a cameo in Khamoshiyan. Is it true?

You will have to see the film for that. But yes, I have promised her that she will be a part of all the films that I do.

Is she also looking at doing films?

Yes, and I support her completely. Right now she has taken a break from TV, but something is in the offing.

Will you stop doing TV now that you have made the transition to films?

No. TV is home, I am not closed to it. Even today I attend TV events and perform on shows. I won’t be able to do daily soaps because of time constraints, but if there is a finite series and I have an interesting role, why not? TV is a huge medium. Even Amitji despite being so busy did a TV serial.

Several TV actors have made the transition to films but very few have succeeded…

I believe one has to make smart moves. I had got several offers when I was doing serials, but I always wanted to debut with a big banner. That is very important. I have got a positive feedback for the trailer, and soon will start the promotions. I am excited.