‘Dhadkan Zindagii Kii’ actor Rohit Purohit talks about his prep for his role of a doctor!

“I had to unlearn a lot and become more realistic”, #RohitPurohit talks about playing a doctor in #SonyEntertainmentTelevision’s new show. Rohit Purohit is a household name. With his many characters being popularly celebrated by viewers, he has made his mark on Indian television. Returning to the idiot box after two years, the actor will be seen in Sony Entertainment Television’s brand-new show, ‘#DhadkanZindaggiKii’, a medical drama that will follow Dr #DeepikaSinha, played by #AdditiGupta and her struggles to make space for herself in a patriarchal world. Playing Dr Vikrant Saxena will be Rohit Purohit, and here he talks about his character, the show, how donning the doctor’s coat was difficult for him and why the show will change the perception of viewers towards women in the workplace.

You are returning to television after 2 years, what made you say yes to going ahead with the role of Dr Vikrant Saxena in Sony Entertainment Television’s new show ‘Dhadkan’?*
Yes, I am coming back to TV after two years. The biggest thing was the pandemic which made everyone stay home and even during the pandemic it wasn’t like shows were not being televised, they were, and I was also getting offers but no offer seemed to attract my interest. But when they offered me this role that was quite a different experience because I have worked with Nilanjana (Nilanjana Purkayasstha, Head producer). So, I know how she works, this is my third show with her. So creatively, there was no need for me to think about my character or if the project I am taking up will be justified. I think the shows she makes and directs is a huge reason that I am about to do something better. Also, the director of the show is my friend, so this is my seventh show with him. I have done seven shows with him, and he is an old friend, so he was also one of the reasons. And of course, the script, the show’s story is so interesting, and the concept is very fresh and new to tv, and I think that was the biggest reason.

We have seen you in roles that have been liked by the audience a lot, but Dr Vikrant Saxena is a complicated character. How would you like Dr Vikrant to be perceived by the audience?*
Before this, I have mostly done historical characters that you can find references to in history, and I am glad that people liked it. But this character is completely different, a character we can find amongst us, we who live in this society. It’s a very complicated character, and when the show premieres, the viewers will get to know about it more. It’s about a surgeon and his personal life and this inclined me towards taking this project. Talking about how the audience perceives my character, looking at my work, it is simply limited to what I have been given to work with. I give a hundred per cent in my work, my experiences and observations about society also seep into my work. So, I am hopeful that people will like the character because it is realistic. When portraying historical characters, you can find references in some history books. With this show, you will experience something new with every episode. Nobody knows about this character so episode by episode, scene by scene, people will discover Vikrant more, so I am very excited.

Playing a doctor comes with its own set of challenges. Tell us about the kind of preparation you undertook for ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’?*
Just playing a doctor was difficult because medical terms are a nightmare. Even as a doctor, playing a surgeon, was difficult. I knew about the show, I was in touch with Nilanjana ma’am, so I knew what was going to happen. So, there was no special preparation, I came on set, and I delivered. The second thing is that I have an amount of experience working through so many years that slowly I put myself into the character, but yes, here I had to unlearn a lot and become more realistic and natural according to the show’s pattern. So, after a lot of unlearning, I did what I could, and we tried to keep it as natural as possible.

Medical dramas have been televised on Indian screens for ages. What makes ‘Dhadkan’ different from the previous shows?*
Yes, medical shows have previously been televised on Indian screens, all of us have watched them, but, If I talk from the perspective of being a part of the audience then this narrative is ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’s base, the medical background. And the show talks about the personal life of doctors and even in old shows we get glimpses of the doctors’ personal lives, but I think that the take here is very realistic. There is no drama, the reaction to situations is ditto to how we react in our actual lives. So, ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’ is very authentic, the way we have shown our surgeries, treatments, and medical concepts, is very precise. It’s surface deep, after doing so many episodes I feel we have been given a crash course in becoming a surgeon! That what is good about ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’ is that is very realistic, and each character has his or her point of view on certain matters that have been showcased very strongly.

Additi Gupta will be seen opposite you as Dr Deepika who are at loggerheads. How are you bringing this on-screen chemistry to life?*
Additi is a brilliant actor! When you work with professional actors who are ready to give their hundred per cent for a character, your work becomes easy and interesting. So, on the track that we have been given, we are both walking on the path assigned for our characters. And when you have such a dedicated actor in front of you committed to their character, thinking about their character so even your work becomes easier. So, I think working with her is a wonderful experience.

A lot of people have a lot of misconceptions about a woman being a surgeon or taking up a career in a male-dominated profession. Do you think ‘Dhadkan’ will be able to change that perspective?*

Oh yes, after watching ‘Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii’ people’s perception will change. I have been working for so many years and even I see that it’s not that easy for women where mostly men work. It is difficult for them to create their own space and because Deepika is a surgeon in the show, she has had to face a lot of ups and downs in her journey. The story talks about how certain people try to stop her from charting her path and how the men of the society try to dominate over her, but still how Deepika survives the shark-infested waters, that’s what the show talks about. People will be inspired by the show. Things that people should learn like how women and girls should be treated, in their workplace, this show will teach them that.

‘Dhadkan: Zindagii Kii’ is set to premiere on 6th December, every Mon-Fri at 10 pm on Sony Entertainment Television!