I aim to be the Ayushmann Khurrana of Tollywood: Sohel Ryan

Earlier this week, Sohel Syed Ryan began shoot in Goa for his debut film in Tollywood. The actor, who rose to fame with his stint in the popular reality show Bigg Boss Telugu 3, is looking to make a mark in the Telugu film industry by showing off his versatility. “I am aiming to be the Ayushmann Khurrana of Tollywood. I want to pick roles that no actor has attempted before and I want to be recognised as a versatile actor,” Sohel says confidently.He adds, “My debut film will be full of surprises. I play an unapolegetic, aggressive man who runs high on emotion. It’s a unique character that has shades of grey. I can’t wait to see how the audience will react to it.”
Sohel had begun shooting for the film, directed by Srinivas Vinjanampati, in February but the shoot came to an abrupt halt due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had finished shoot for 45 per cent of the film and unfortunately, we had to put a halt to it due to the second wave. A lot of members were affected and there was uncertainty about the film. But thankfully the situation has improved and it feels great to be back on sets again,” he says.
During the lockdown, Sohel worked round the clock helping people in need, through his foundation. “Bigg Boss gave me so many admirers across the Telugu states and this fame enabled me to help people in need during the pandemic. Finding beds and other medical equipment was extremely challenging but I feel happy that me and my team were able to help as many people as we could. I just wish that such a phase never comes again,” he adds.