For the first time in my life, Lucknowites made me feel like a star! Sushant Singh

Actor Sushant Singh is back and with a bang on the show 'Savdhaan India'. Taking a break of almost a year from the show, Sushant, who was in Lucknow for its promotion, said he is loving what he is getting to do professionally. "I’m only doing this show, as of now," says Sushant in an honest tone, adding, "There’s nothing happening on the

Bollywood

scene. I’m being offered the same films like 'Baby' and 'Hate Story 2'. Ab kuchh naya aur interesting aaye toh main karoon bhi. Kuch aisa mile ki apne ko karne mein bhi excitement ho and the viewer should also be excited to watch it, tab toh karoon, warna I am earning my bread and butter thanks to 'Savdhaan'. So I have the freedom to say no to projects I don’t like. But yes, I am doing a South film with Dileep. It’s an interesting project."
But playing the same role of a sutradhaar on a TV show must be getting boring, but Sushant doesn’t think so. "I am happy doing the same thing again and again on TV and films," says he adding, "Ya toh TV karunga ya movies. TV pe acting is not my cup of tea. I tried doing two fiction shows and I hated it. Playing one character for more than a year is impossible for me. In Savdhaan, I am myself. For me, it’s a social cause because I am helping people in a way. As a brother, son, father, husband, a man, there are issues that I can address in this show and make people aware of them. Because I’ve myself gone through the tragedy of losing my sister in such a violent way, I want others to be aware that such things exist and what they should do to prevent them."

Sushant Singh (BCCL/ Vishnu Jaiswal)

He adds, "So this kind of a thing I love because it’s also keeping my kitchen fire burning apart from touching upon a social cause. If people think I’ve become an anchor, fine, main toh khush hoon! Besides, each episode of the show is different, so my emotions and how I express them in each show is also different. Yaho toh koi bhi actor karta hai na, of expressing different emotions?"
Ask him which episode of the show had him most moved and Sushant says, "Reading about a crime in the newspaper is different but knowing about it in detail is a different thing altogether. One episode that I can never forget is of a man in Gujarat who killed his three daughters and himself because he couldn’t repay a loan of five thousand rupees. He took the kids for a train ride and first pushed them and then himself jumped off the train. That level of desperation, that shook me up completely and shamed me as a citizen."
A regular visitor to Lucknow, Sushant shares that he has lovely memories of the city since the time he used to live here for months together as a school kid. "I’ve been visiting Lucknow since I was a kid. When I was studying in Nanital, our school camp would be organized at

Moti Mahal lawns

. Hum mahino wahan pe tents mein raha karte thay. And I remember we would watch all these parties taking place at Clarks Awadh and wonder kaash hum bhi aise hi hotel mein ja ke khana kha sakte hote. So I have very fond memories of Lucknow. Savdhaan India started from here, I’ve shot a lot of films here and have lots of friends in Lucknow. Ghar jaisa lagta hai Lucknow. Yaar-dost mil jaate hain toh aur achha lagta hai," says he.
Talking about his favourite haunt in the city Singh says, "Itna Lucknow maine dekha hai par mera favourite haunt will always be Moti Mahal lawns and Ganj. We used to be there at Moti Mahal for 2-3 months at a stretch. Every weekend that we used to get an off, we would go for Ganjing at

Hazratganj

. So these are my two favourite places in Lucknow. Another reason that I love this city is because I was mobbed by fans for the first time in Lucknow. Saavdhan had just begun and a few of my films had also released. And I happened to come to Lucknow for a promotional tour and we went to Tunday’s for dinner. Ab I was sitting there and eating when someone came to me with a request for an autograph and photo. Then the second and third person also came. Slowly it became a chain of people. I also told them that I am eating and aap log photo khinchwate rahiye. Then suddenly three constables came inside and asked me to leave the restaurant immediately. When I asked them why, they said sahib aap ki wajah se baahar traffic jam ho gaya hai, aap please jaiyye yahan se. So for the first time in my life, Lucknowites made me feel like a star! And I loved that attention. Isi liye toh acting karta hoon!"

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