I started slow and picked up gradually: actor Barun Sobti on his showbiz journey

Mumbai, Oct 23 (PTI) He came into the industry with little preparation and learnt the ropes of not just acting but also filmmaking on the job. Barun Sobti, a former corporate professional, says he always knew deep down he wanted to be an actor.

Sobti, who went from being small screen’s heartthrob in “Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon” to becoming an actor of substance in web series “Kohrra” and “Asur”, landed his first gig a TV show called “Shraddha” in 2009 while he was still in his native Delhi.

By that time, he hadn’t done much, except a few modelling jobs.

“I should’ve done that (preparation before starting acting) and that’s why my first show was really bad. It’s always been the case in my life, I started slow and picked up gradually. That’s also an indication that I think, ‘I’m oversmart, I’ll do it’ but you can’t do anything without preparation.

“But when I went into (the industry) it became a training ground… It was not as conclusive but somewhere deep down you want to be an actor. It was that kind of a feeling… I felt there was a scope for bettering performing arts in our country,” the actor told PTI in an interview.

Sobti, whose latest web series “Raat Jawaan Hai” has garnered great reviews, recalled selling a piece of land before shifting base to Mumbai.

“I thought there was an opportunity for me to give it a shot for six months and what propelled the whole thing was that I came here and I started getting work,” he added.

After signing the contract for “Shraddha”, the 40-year-old said he went back to Delhi and told his company’s CEO about bagging the show.

“I told my CEO that this was the scenario, he was an extremely generous man, and he said, ‘You may leave tomorrow’. He said some people gave me the opportunity and that’s why I’m here and I’m going to let you go, and not trouble you. He paid me a handsome gratuity and the gratuity kept me going in Mumbai because the show took off six to seven months after I came here.”

When he started running out of money, he asked his show producers to allow him to audition for TV commercials.

“At that time, audition rooms would be tiny where only 80 people could be accommodated but there would be over 150 people in it. I got discouraged. I salute the courage of the people who go there every day.

“I didn’t have an agent, so I didn’t know which ad was being shot so I would just go and check. If I liked the content I would go and wait (for the audition) or leave. During this time, I got an ad for a car that paid me handsomely so I could stay back.”

There was a four-to-five-year period when he only watched content and tried to sharpen his skills.

“I was trying to understand not only the scenes but what the editing, direction and music were going to do with what I was doing as well. There was a four-to-five-year period when I was watching only content, I was trying to strengthen my skill (acting) but I feel I should’ve come prepared…

“Talent alone is not enough, luck matters a lot. There are a string of things that have to happen right where you are, to be placed in the place where you first wished to be placed when you came into the industry. So, a lot of things have to go correct. It’s a difficult industry to make it in and to sustain.”

The actor, who shot to national fame as the brooding leading man Arnav Singh Raizada in 2011’s “Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon”, said he didn’t get to know how popular the show was until they went to award functions.

“We used to shoot for 12 to 14 hours, go back home, sleep and come back every day as me and Sanaya (Irani) were the main leads. We had no idea what was happening.

When a few award functions happened and our show was taking all the awards that’s when we realised the show was popular.

“We didn’t know it was going to be that crazy. We wanted to finish the show. I wanted to let go of the show because I was like, ‘I’m done with it (television). By that time, I had something in my mind that I wanted to do a certain kind of work. I was not thinking about how famous I am and that I’ve to capitalise on this fame,” he said.

It is always about quality over quantity for him, said Sobti, who also has films such as “Tu Hai Mera Sunday”, “Main Aur Mr. Riight”, and “22 Yards” to his credit.

“If I would’ve said yes to everything, I would’ve done 120 (projects). But the quality of that work would have been four out of ten. I try to associate myself with like-minded people. I would like to think I’m reasonably intelligent if not a genius… I’ve surrounded myself with the right people, right opportunities, filtering the projects that I did. I’ve made good friends with all the people I’ve worked with in the last three to four years.”

The actor is currently working on a show called “Ek Kathay”, in which he plays a man from the Sikh community.

“This look is for ‘Ek Kathay’, in which I’m playing a Sikh. I can’t afford to offend the Sikh community; they are my in-laws; and my wife is a Sikhni.”

Next up for Sobti is season two of “Kohrra” and an untitled project.