Appnapan… Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan’ actor Cezanne Khan gives a fresh perspective on ‘second chances’!

Having created a glorious career in television and becoming a popular household name, Cezanne Khan has made his grand comeback to television with Sony Entertainment Television’s family drama ‘Appnapan… Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan’. Giving a fresh perspective on ‘second chances’ while shedding light on the dilemma and complexities in relationships, the show traces the lives of an estranged couple – Pallavi (Rajshree Thakur) and Nikhil, now single parents who are driven apart by ego owing to their past, and how they pave their way to make their family complete. Actor Cezanne Khan portrays the role of Nikhil, a celebrity chef who hides behind his workaholic self and struggles to be emotionally available to his children Manna (Mehak Ghai) and Harsh (Keshav Mehta). Much appreciated for his performance in the show, Cezanne Khan’s comeback has been welcomed by the audience with open arms. In a candid chat, the actor revealed why the show was the right choice for him in a list of offers and why the audience must give it a watch if they have not already.

From your first show to ‘Appnapan’, what has the journey been like for you as an actor who is not only popular but a household name when it comes to television?
I think it has been a beautiful experience, when I started, I was fresh and new in the industry. It took a lot of effort to play my first character as I had to understand and get into the skin of the character which took me a very long time, but I truly enjoyed the role. And, eventually with time both the show and the character saw great heights and I am truly grateful to it. Over the years I got to play different roles which weren’t bad. When I got offered the role of Nikhil, I found it to be very different from my previous roles. And, after so many years when you get to do something drastically different which the audience have never seen you in, you just feel like grabbing that opportunity because it helps you break through the image that you have set earlier with your previous characters. I am extremely glad that I took up this challenge of portraying Nikhil’s character in Appnapan. It’s been an amazing journey so far and hope the audience enjoy it as well.

What made you choose Appnapan? Was it your special connection with Balaji Telefilms or was it the role that pulled you in?
I have a special connection with Balaji Telefilms because they gave me my biggest break and made me a household name. Therefore I am and will always be truly grateful to them for believing in me always. We have a different bond altogether, it’s like a homecoming for me. ‘Appnapan’ is a very heart-warming family drama which is different from what I have done previously. Whenever a challenging role comes across, every actor wants to do it. This is something very different and I am sure people will like it because they haven’t seen me do a character like this before. While I was being offered a couple of films but when I heard the story of Appnapan I realised it is so different and I had to do it. The story will not only tug the audience’s heart but will make them connect to each and every character in the show as well because all of them have a story to tell which is quite relatable.

Would you say that you and your character in Appnapan share similar traits? If not, were you inspired by anyone to play the role to perfection?
A- My character Nikhil and I are poles apart and don’t share any kind of similarities. But, one common thing that we both share is that I love to cook and enjoy eating which is the same with Nikhil J as well. So we are similar along those lines. Otherwise, both of us are quite different and that’s what pulled me into doing the role because it was challenging for me to portray a character who is unlike me in all sense.

What was the sort of table discussions you had with the director and writers of the show that went into perfecting the role of Nikhil who is also a celebrity chef other than being a man separated from his wife, dealing with single parenthood?
A- There were a lot of discussions earlier because the role is very different so we got a briefing from Ekta herself. Every actor has a different perspective about their role but the director, who knows the story and every character, has a different vision for it. Thus, more than being dependent on the discussions I trusted and left myself blindly to the director, I followed his direction. It takes me three-four days to understand the role, to get completely under the skin of the character. The director, I feel, has seen the bigger picture and so I tend to follow his instructions. If he likes my portrayal, it’s great, if he doesn’t then I try to understand his feedback and improve at it. Once I catch on to the character then I start picking up from there, and then the director does not need to guide me. It does take a bit of hard work initially but once you get the nitties gritties right, you can just go with the flow. Along with, we had also done a couple of workshops as well with a renowned chef to understand the culinary skills as well. So it took a lot of effort and I hope the final outcome is being loved by the audience.

Do you take into consideration the script’s guidelines for the character?
A. Ekta briefed us completely on the role. The way she had perceived the character, she explained to us properly. So, for any actor first and foremost, he or she will try to play the character in the manner of how he or she feels is correct. But it’s not about whether you are correct or wrong. You are seeing your character, but the director is seeing every character. He is like the captain of the ship. So, it’s better to take his guidance because he’s thinking of your character in the context of all other characters. You must play by the script because that gives the shape of the characters but there are times you miss out on a few things. It’s not your entire emotion but some things he will point out. I prefer being a director’s actor until the time I don’t grasp the script completely. Once I get into the game, now I know the character and the push is not required. Now when I read the script, I am ready. There might be slights here and there and the director might pinpoint that, “I don’t want more emotions in this” or “I don’t want anger in this”, he can just pinpoint. It takes a while for every actor to get into the skin, like four-five days. I think you should follow the director for a clearer picture.

Playing a chef means that you get to be around food a lot. Have you ever been a hands-on chef in the kitchen yourself or does cooking comes naturally to you?
A- I am not a chef but I do like to cook and more than that I am a foodie who loves to eat. Cooking does not come naturally to me but yes, it is not difficult for me. I am good at chopping and making things. I am also not talking about omelette and all, I can make good food like tandoori etc. I can prepare food, I can chop everything. I might not be great like my character who is a chef but it’s not like I can’t cook. There have been times I have cooked a lot of stuff. I am not bad (laughs).

Tell the audience in one line, why they should watch Appnapan… Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan?
A- What we have done is different and I am not saying it just for the sake of it. The story is different, unlike your day-to-day soaps as each and every character has their own journey and story to tell. The show’s narrative has been sketched beautifully and brings forth a promising story that gives a fresh perspective about second chances, while exploring the maze of complex relationships and parenting through the journey of an estranged couple – Nikhil and Pallavi. Hope the viewers enjoy it.

Tune into Appnapan… Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan, every Monday to Friday at 10:00 pm only on Sony Entertainment Television.

Keerti Kadam.