Manish Goel, who is seen as Raghav in Deepa Shahi and Rajan Shahi’s Anupamaa, which is produced under their banner Shahi Productions Pvt Ltd and Director’s Kut Productions, shared that he is a self-motivated actor and believes it’s important to be in an atmosphere where there is healthy competition, as it pushes an actor to grow and perform better.
He said, “After 28 years in the industry, I know that everyone has their own perception of their character, their way of living life, and how they approach their work. I am more of a secluded person—self-motivated, driven by my own goals as an actor and performer. So yes, while a healthy atmosphere is important, I prefer a competitive atmosphere where everyone is pushing to give their best.”
“A healthy competitive spirit always enhances performance. When you know the opposite actor is so good, you will naturally push yourself to perform even better,” he added.
Asked how important it is to share good chemistry with your co-stars both on and off-screen, he said, “As an actor, I feel that when you enter a set and meet someone for the first time, your chemistry gradually evolves.”
He revealed that he has worked with Rupali Ganguly, who plays the titular character of Anupamaa on two shows before this, and they have known each other for several years. He added, “That definitely adds a lot to our scenes and on-screen chemistry. However, even if you don’t know your co-actor well, you still have to ensure that the on-screen chemistry works for the audience.”
He further said, “Off-screen chemistry is secondary—what truly matters is making sure that the on-screen chemistry is spot on.”
For Manish, a typical day on the set is pure work. “I am a very selfish actor when it comes to my character, my look, and my homework for the role—these are the most important things to me. I am drawn to any role that is challenging. In the last couple of years, there has been work coming in, but ’no’ has been a more predominant answer from my end because I believe there is more power in saying no than yes,” he said.
“It’s not just about what you do; it’s more important to consider what you don’t do. This role felt like a challenge where I could experiment, push myself, and grow as an actor. That’s why I accepted it. Most importantly, it’s a very strong cameo. It unfolds every day; it’s intriguing, and I am looking forward to doing my best. I hope the audience accepts me,” he added.
He further shared that he has been working on sets for almost 15 years now, and his rules are very clear—no mobile phones on set while he is shooting. “My phone stays either in my vanity van or in the makeup room. Also, I do not read my script on set. I do my homework beforehand in my room, so when I get a scene, I learn it by heart and ensure I am fully prepared before stepping onto the set,” he said.
“This way, I don’t waste time reading the script on set. Being punctual is the most important thing for me. A minute wasted is a minute wasted for my producer. Everyone who has worked with me knows that,” Manish shared.
