Scene by scene

Mona

‘Stay true to your conviction’...is the dictum that actor Manav Vij believes in. When this homeopathic doctor landed in Mumbai a decade-and-a-half back, his acting earned criticism. With the sole aim to create his own identity, he continued slow and steady, and leapt from small screen first to Pollywood and eventually to Bollywood; he now has as many as six projects due to hit the screens in 2017.

He will be seen in two quite divergent films – a ghost story Phillauri and spy thriller Naam Shabana. Manav will be seen playing lead actress Anushka Sharma’s brother in the first, a character very different from Udta Punjab where he played negative role. “In Phillauri I play completely opposite to my last outing in Bollywood,” opens up Manav, who enjoyed the initial workshop and eased in to the role. 

Having done turban-bearded looks in these two films; Manav was surprised when Shivam Nair and Neeraj Pandey asked him to play clean-shaven character in their thriller. “Playing a raw agent besides Taapsee Pannu, Akshay Kumar and Manoj Bajpayee was another challenge that I thoroughly enjoyed.” 

Happy note

What makes this actor really happy is that no more is the spotlight focused on the lead pair in any film, “From when I started to act to now, the biggest change is that character-actors, screenplay writers and cinematographers are also being known, not only in the industry but among the masses too,” shares the actor, who has people come up to him and narrate his dialogues. 

Manav believes it is his desire to pursue acting that has got him to where he is today. “Today, when I look back, I believe fate has played its role.” Coming to Mumbai, Manav found a karmic connection with Ekta Kapoor, the Czarina of the telly world. “Ekta not only gave me lots of works, but also got me hitched to Meher.”

Having played his innings well on the small screen; Manav headed to Pollywood and it was Udta Punjab that got him noticed. Comparing the two, he finds not much of a difference in how the two industries function. “As an artiste, I give my 100 per cent — be it Hindi film or Punjabi; web-series or a soap.”

However, he enjoys shooting Punjabi films more as the atmosphere on the sets is more relaxed and due to the Punjabiat in his blood. With a father in Ferozpur and total faith in Nakodar Sai Ka darbar, each time Manav misses home, he is here. “I have a friend philosopher and guide in Gurdas Maan ji. I am in absolute love with him, and his songs are the ideals by which I lead my life.”

mona@tribunemail.com