“I Felt Very Overwhelmed When Pavitra Asked Me If She Could Tie Me A Rakhi On Raksha Bandhan”, Aditya Shukla

Ishq Ki Dastaan – Naagmani is an Indian Hindi supernatural drama and fantasy Indian television series on Dangal. The show was telecasted on 13th June and since then the show has gathered a lot of love and appreciation from the audience.

We got in touch with Aditya Shukla, who plays the antagonist of the show exclusively to talk to us about his role in the show, his bond with his co-stars and how much he missed his late cousin Sidharth Shukla.

Tell us about what was your first reaction when you were approached for the antagonist role in Naagmani?

I got a call from one of the casting people who wanted me to be a part of Naagmani. I went for the auditions and after two weeks I got called for a costume check. Later I bagged the role and I couldn’t have been more happier.

How are the cast and crew on the set? How is the atmosphere?

Everyone is great onset and very friendly. Me, Pavitra and Neha believe we are like baddies with superpowers. It’s like a family, we have lot of fun and have lunch together, the people of the show are like a second family.

Your role is more mythological and villainous, how do feel about the character overpowering?

It’s not completely mythological but when it comes to shooting on the green screen chroma, it’s like a gigantic thing with the costumes and everything. It is for sure a bit challenging but fun. My superpower in the show is that I can get up to 20 feet tall like a hulk. Until you see it on the screen everything seems alright but after that, the magic begins. I haven’t done this before so it’s fun.

Don’t you think that it’s quite difficult to imagine rather than doing it in reality?

Yes, I would be lying if I said that it’s not challenging. Like I remember doing a scene where I have to throw a tree on the Naag and Naagin but when it comes to editing you have to say that this happened for graphics and until it happens on screen it’s not complete. I’ve worked on it before also and I found it pretty easy. It’s almost 2 months now, and now I’m used to it.

Apart from the show would be interested to be part of Khatron Ke Khiladi, Jhalak Dikhlaja, or Bigg Boss. Would you be interested?

I’d love to. Maybe if the makers of Bigg Boss approach me for the show I’ll definitely go. But as far as Jhalak and Khatron Ke Khiladi is concerned, I’m desperate to be a part of those shows. I’m very adventurous in that way. I like doing deep sea diving and fighting with sharks. When Siddharth and I were together in Bigg Boss, we would tell each other we have to do the show together.

During your breaks or rehearsing scripts, do you and Pavitra get to have a conversation about Sidharth Shukla?

I did know Pavitra even before bagging the show together because we met once, around 10-12 years back. Siddharth and Pavitra met during their modelling days and that is how I knew Pavitra. We do talk about Sidharth now and then. She sometimes mentions ‘oh this habit resembles Sid’. Since I play her brother on screen, I felt very overwhelmed when she asked me if she could tie a Rakhi on Raksha Bandhan. Whereas on the sets, Pavitra is like altogether a different person, she is a crazy version of herself but very fun-loving.

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Is it safe to say that you are trying to bring the Marvel version to the pan-Indian audience?

Not exactly the western version but yes I would say that we are bringing the Indian marvel version like Bajrang Bali. I’m just in awe of his powers.

Lastly, what do you want to say to the fans about the show?

Well, I want the fans to keep watching our show. Keep showering their love on us. Our show is not a cliché mythological story but we sure have a different kind of approach when it comes to Ishq Ki Dastaan – Naagmani.