‘We are ensuring to drive away corona-blues of the viewers’, says Nikhil Khurana

After lockdown, television channels have started airing new serials and on Zee TV’s Ram Pyaare Sirf Humare is already becoming a favourite of the viewers. Cine Buster spoke to Nikhil Khurana who plays the lead role of Ram in the serial. Here’s what he has to say.

What is the concept and USP of the show?
Ram Pyaare Sirf Humare is a situational comedy, that follows the life of a young woman Dulari and her charming husband – Ram. It is a light-hearted show that showcases the relationship of Ram and Dulari and how she turns to a book of worldly wisdom with traditional ‘nuskas’ to keep him safe from the clutches of other women vying for his attention. To sum it up, it is a relatable tale and the refreshing comedy of errors will sure get families together and make them laugh with its engaging and comic narrative, especially post this pandemic that has made everyone’s life very gloomy over the past few months. We are ensuring to drive away corona-blues of the viewers.

Tell us more about your character.
Ram is a small town Mohalla hero who runs a beauty parlor and while he provides the best beauty services in town, women also visit the parlor specially to gawk at him. His utterly charming looks has made him the the apple of every woman’s eyes in that town, but Ram does not give in to the multiple flirtations that come his way. He is very loyal to his wife, Dulari and will do anything for her. Dulari too sees her husband as the ‘MaryadaPurushottam’ and considers him to be her ‘prize catch’. For this very reason she adopts various unique nuskhas to keep her man way from the other women.

Tell us about your experience so far…..
We have only recently started shooting full-fledged and I am having a really good time exploring my character, Ram. One of the most exciting experiences I have had so far is from the promo shoot of the show where I had to take the avatar of Lord Ram to depict the essence of my character. As easy as the appearance might have looked, I had to undergo a rather a rigorous routine to get into the avatar.   It took me a minimum of 3 hours to step into that avatar while my makeup and hair team worked in full force to paint my entire body. Now, personally I am not someone who really likes to dress up a lot and often avoid any extensive makeup routines, but this was a hard resist. It took equal number of hours to get into the avatar and out of it, and this wouldn’t have been possible had I not been an actor. I have also bonded really well with my costars and we do have a great time on set while ensuring that we maintain social distancing and the necessary safety precautions are taken., so I am excited and looking forward to venturing further on Ram’s journey.

Did you undergo any preparations for this role?
Ram is one of the most ideal men there could be, and a lot of my time went in understanding the personality and nature of this character of mine. I also spent equal amount of time understanding Dulari as a woman and her reasons for being so insecure about her husband. I believe it’s extremely important to know the role and all the elements that impact the character in and out before you begin portraying it on-screen.

Being and army child, how was your experience considering all the travel and change of cities? Does the experience help you when it comes to living the life of an actor?
My dad was in the Army and being an army kid has taught me a lot about discipline and patience. We used to travel a lot and via this experience I learnt to adapt to my surroundings when I was just a child.  I in fact considered it an opportunity to experience different cultures and make friends across India at quite an early stage of my life. Although I was born in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, I have resided for a short span of time in Jalandhar, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Pune and Bikaner too. I’m honestly quite proud that I come from an Army background and all the principles that I learnt as kid; I try to apply in my daily routine as well.

So what do you really love about Chandigarh and Pune?
Chandigarh is my hometown from where I have done my schooling and have also completed my graduation in commerce from DAV college, Sector 10.  Back then, I was quite inclined towards participating in cultural activities and youth fests and thus even my college encouraged me to participate in dance and modelling. Since my dad was in the army, this was his last posting.

With regard to Pune, I completed my post-graduation in MBA from SIMS and then worked with Marsh for about two years prior to joining the film industry. I really loved the city’s vibe and that’s what I truly miss a lot. Pune has the most amazing food especially at its quaint cafes situated at almost every Nukkad. I remember spending my breakfast mornings at Good Luck Café relishing their Bun Maska and chai. It’s amongst one of the things of Pune that I really love.

How do you keep your fitness in check especially while shooting through erratic schedules?
Fitness for me is a way of life and I make sure to exercise every day. I don’t really like going to the gym a lot because I feel one can work out from wherever they are. The fitness mantra I abide by is to maintain regularity in your workout and eat right. Even when I am shooting on the sets, I start doing pull ups or I go for a run during the free time I get from my scenes. My diet is also always in check and I ensure I carry healthy and homecooked food with me to the set. I believe in keeping a healthy balance between my mind and the body and thus never let my work impact me a harmful way.

How was your experience shooting during Covid-19?
It is an overwhelming feeling, but having said that, we are taking all the necessary precautions as advised by the production team on the set. There are sanitizers installed at various points and our crew members also wear masks and face shields while interacting with us. On a personal level too, we understand the sensitivity of the situation and take proper care ourselves. It is a very different experience for all of us, but the new normal is something we need to adjust to, and we should take absolute precautions while stepping out as the pandemic has still not died down. I sanitize everything I touch, or I need to wear, as well as wear gloves and masks whenever I am not shooting.

This is your first time collaborating with Zee TV, what would you like to say about that?
This is indeed a great opportunity. Zee TV is a big name in the industry and I’m quite ecstatic about collaborating with the channel especially for such an interesting show. It sounds quite exciting as does portraying and living the character of Ram. I hope we’re all able to meet the expectations of the audiences from this show

What are your upcoming projects?
Right now my focus is only on Ram Pyaare Sirf Humare, I hope that the show will entertain its audience and viewers will enjoy watching it, as much as we are having fun while making it.