Actor Anuj Arora, who has been a part of TV shows like Bandini, Thodi Khushi Thode Gham, Behenein and web series Anarchy, is making his Bollywood debut with Koi Jaye Toh Le Aaye. Anuj says that though he had no connections in the industry, he started giving auditions while he was assisting Dibakar Banerjee. He took things in his own hands and finally landed a role in the popular show Burey Bhi Hum Bhale Bhi Hum.
“I successfully auditioned for Star Plus, and I was fortunate to land the role of Prateek in the show Burey Bhi Hum Bhale Bhi Hum. One memorable experience during this time was attending a party at a five-star hotel. When I entered, the guards greeted me by my character’s name, marking my first taste of fame. This moment brought me immense joy and was a significant learning experience, teaching me a lot about the industry. After that, I worked on Behenein which was my 2nd show with Hats off Production. Then I worked in several shows with Ekta Ma’am, including Bandini on NDTV Imagine and Thodi Khushi Thode Gham on Sony, among others,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I lost my father, which was a devastating blow. In 2018, I had to return to Jodhpur to support my mother and family, who were alone. It was a sudden and challenging time, and I decided to take a break to be with them,” he added.
While in Jodhpur, Anuj was emotionally low, however, he reached out to his theatre guru, who helped him get a role in his play. He said, “Theatre has always been therapeutic for me, helping to rejuvenate my spirit. The play was called Ek Mamuli Admi. Participating in it helped me emerge from that low phase. Then, COVID-19 hit, and I stayed in Jodhpur until 2021. After the pandemic, I returned to Mumbai, searching for work. I learned about an audition for an upcoming web series and decided to try it out. I got the role, marking a fresh start in my career.”
“The series is Anarchy, directed by Tarik Khan, where I play a transgender character named Chandni, set in the 1980s. It is the most challenging role of my life, giving me a very different look. Landing this character felt like a compliment. The cast is amazing and I am fortunate that I got to work with Piyush Mishra, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Anita Hassanandani. We shot in Raipur for a year on real locations. I’m really looking forward to its release,” he added.
What next? “I’m hopeful that these projects see the light of day. A tremendous amount of effort has been invested in them. My anticipation lies in portraying intriguing characters across various mediums. I’m drawn to roles that offer depth and challenge, regardless of the platform. I aspire to secure more opportunities.”
