” Nakuul Bhai and I look quite similar. We share a brotherly vibe.” ~ Ayush Shrivastava from BALH 3

Ayush Shrivastava is the one who has been acted in shows like Alibaba Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 as Khusro and has been pretty famous because of that character. He is remembered very well as Khusro. He has also performed as Dr. Kabir in Love, Scandal and Doctors. So we finally got in touch with him over an audio interview where we asked him about his recent character he is playing of Gaurav Kapoor in Bade Acche Lagte Hain 3 and it was a fun chat.

How have you been lately? How is your shoot going on?

” I’ve been relieved and been pretty good and feeling nice in terms of career too. My last show was Alibaba and just as soon as I wrapped Alibaba, I got this show Bade Acche Lagte Hain. i got back to back work, I’ve got good production houses and pretty good characters and shows as well. So as an actor I’m feeling really really really grateful and lucky to be a part of such wonderful projects and happy. Shoot is going great. The show is coming to an end. We decided to be a finite series, the shooting is going good so we will be wrapping up in a few days.”

How much do you miss the Alibaba days?

“Actually glad you asked this, I would like to do it official, I kept telling my fans as well on Instagram, with Ali my bond has been very organic and same from his side as well, we were the first ones who had actually started the show’s workshop last year in the month of May. We were the first ones finalised, we were told that we are best friends. Our bond happened to be so organic that whenever we reached the set and started the shoot, we weren’t actually playing the Ali and Khusro characters but we were even living it because we became like them in real. We knew the reactions we would give each other as Ali and Khusro, even with the lines we knew how it would actually end up in a beautiful scene. Our bond just got developed gradually, same we have it today as well, there’s no such difference today but we have been constantly been in touch in spite of walking our own paths of profession. It was a blessing to me that we have built really natural bonds among us and it’s not just with Ali but everyone on set.”

You’ve joined BALH 3 midway, weren’t you scared of your character will pick it up?

” Yeah! you’re correct. I felt it immediately. Actually it was supposed to be since the beginning of the season, I was locked in the beginning itself but due o some briefs, the character was brought in the middle of the show. So I entered in the middle when the characters in the show were established in the beginning itself. I know how it is when characters are introduced in the middle of the show, it is difficult for the role and the person to bond off camera. But when you give your 100% everything is on track so my character is the most loved character, so when I came in the show. My character, Gaurav in the show is neither negative nor positive, because audience is very sentimental when it comes to Ram and Priya. I hoped that it doesn’t seem my character comes off to the audience who thinks I’m separating them unless it was required for the scene. It wasn’t needed because they both belong to a rich family but that was all character brief. My character, Gaurav is selfish but he loves Ram. I kept my character at core being money minded too but I love my brother too. You resonate with pure intentions, I would give credit to Nakuul bhai and Chirag for my off camera bond with everyone. They welcomed me really with a lot of warmth. I might have not taken all the names but they were all so loving. Honestly, we all went out for dinner within 1-2 days. Even when I entered the show, there were family functions taking place. The audience also liked my character as there were a lot of edits being made on Instagram, it gives a sense of gratitude.”

How was your offscreen bond with the leads?

” See offscreen and onscreen was the same because they didn’t make me feel like an outsider, I was a part of their family. We didn’t get much time so when I entered, the family functions were going on so it felt like a real life family function environment so everyone was enjoying in the same real way. Haldi, Sangeet and Bachelors was going on but we didn’t get time for the offscreen bond kind of time due to our shoot schedule but we have a blast while shooting like we share memes and stuff. I didn’t get much time to hang out with Disha, because we didn’t shoot much a lot but with Nakuul I shot a lot. I got a big brother vibe and I told him that we look quite similar and got complimented the same too. When we clicked a picture together, he agreed with me saying Yes yaar we do look similar like siblings. I share a great equation with him and I respect him a lot. Definitely, he gives me the big brother vibe, he misses me on set and messages me to come soon saying everyone is missing you onset. Especially the director also likes me which is important too. He is Muzzu sir, he kept the atmosphere so light while shooting all the time. Urgent telecast shoot also was shot so coolly and calmly with no burden. It was such an enjoyable process for everyone.”

After this show, what is your next avatar for the audience?

” No break at all. By God’s grace I have been offered a new show. It will be too early to reveal it. It is a great show. We will talk soon and I’ve been locked for it. I was initially planning that I have done 2 shows back to back so I should wait but they were also keen on having me and I also liked the character and script. I do web series also but I need time for auditions as well. I choose spontaneously so everything is aligning, let’s do it.”

How did you feel initially because BALH 1 you might have watched as an audience and now you’re in the 3rd season?

He laughed at first but then said that, “When the first season came, I was in college and everyone sat together and watched the show. That time I used to stay in Bhilai when my father got transfered. We used to watch Sakshi ma’am and Ram Kapoor, Sumona was also in that show. I liked those characters. Thinking of it all in a retrospect, I discussed it with my mom also, How is it for you all that you guys used to watch the show and now I’m in the show working in it. It is one of the biggest shows in television, whose franchise is a hit and the legacy too, the second part was also done by Anchal Khurana, my friend. She also reminded me that last year you came to meet me on the set and today you’re performing one of the characters in the show. It is so destined because in a way you manifest such stuff. I wanted to work with Ekta Kapoor although I have done LSD but this is her personal favourite. It was a very big thing to even get a look test. More than me my family was excited!”

What was your family’s reaction when they saw you in the show?

” My mom had already revealed about me on her social media profiles when it wasn’t even official, I asked her to wait a little but it was all such an excitement. When I did the show, I got a positive feedback. Everyone, my friends and family texted my and liked my role and work. It is a proud moment for them, so I might get them on set as they wished to so maybe I’ll get them all on the last day.”

If you had to do a reality show, then which one would you be keen on doing?

“Actually I haven’t discovered a liking as such yet, but few days back i discussed this with Sheezan. I’ve watched Khatron Ke Khiladi, I didn’t check Bigg Boss so much but Khatron, yes. I shared with him that I would love to try out Khatron Ke Khiladi once but as an individual I’m not an adventurous as such, I’d dance and play but not adventurous much. It is adventurous itself as an actor, like ups and downs happen a lot. But yes if given a choice then I would do KKK.”

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