I told Mahesh Bhatt that I have no plan B other than acting, he/she became happy – Gaurav Arora

You were not in the first season of Tansan. What are the feelings when someone gets a chance to work in a show which is already garnering praise?

When I saw Fauda season 2, I thought that I want to play such a role someday. Maybe I manifested it unknowingly. I got a call from casting director Mukesh Chhabra that you have to play a role in season 2 of Fauda’s official remake, Tanhaan. I was very excited for this role. I mean, any actor would want to play this character. From beginning to end, the story revolves around this character. The setup of the show was very good. Although I was joining the show in the second season, I definitely had the feeling that these people must have already become friends. These people are already together, so I don’t know what the atmosphere will be like when I come. But I think that whatever I have worked on till date, this set was the most friendly. I enjoyed shooting a lot.

You had such a long career in modeling. How did you feel when you got into acting?

I always wanted to be an actor. When I was in college, I saw a lot of models like Dino Morea, John Abraham, Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra entering the film industry. I had no connection with the film industry. So I came with the mindset that I will first do modelling and when I will make a good name here, then I will get opportunities in films. But this plan backfired. By the time I made a name for myself as a model, there was a line that said ‘models can’t act’. Then I quit modelling altogether. I decided that if I want to do acting, I will have to work on it.

How did you develop the passion and dedication towards acting that you have? You come from a place in MP where not many actors have emerged from?

I come from a small town in Madhya Pradesh, where there was no theatre in my time. Now a theatre has opened there. I had a passion for acting since childhood, but I could not share it with anyone. I used to think that people would make fun of me and for me it was like a dream. Some time ago I was talking to an old friend of mine. he/she told me that how did this happen, it was your fate, because none of us thought like this. Meaning we were all together, we had equal opportunities, same exposure. So I also think many times, maybe becoming an actor was written in my fate.

Any memories from your early days that you would like to share?

Although there are many such experiences, but I always remember one thing. That was the first time I met Mahesh Bhatt sahab. he/she was joking around with me. Then he/she asked me why do I want to become an actor? I told him/her, Sir, I really don’t know why I want to become an actor, but I know that I don’t have a plan B. This is the only thing I want to do. he/she was very happy to hear this. he/she told me that you have given a very honest answer. Mahesh ji said that I will remember you as an actor who had no plan B. Now whenever we meet, he/she asks me if there is a plan B or not?

You took part in the shooting in Kashmir. Did you feel any change there?

I have already shot a series in Kashmir in 2022. I loved it there last time too. Everyone knows that Kashmir is a very beautiful place. But the people there are beautiful both in appearance and from the inside. They are very sweet people, if you respect them, they will give you ten times more love. When we were shooting, there were many other shoots going on along with us. We shot in Pahalgam which is a small and very beautiful city. Shooting there was my best experience.