Arjun Bijlani reveals he had agreed for Naagin on an interesting condition; says 'I asked for one rupee extra on my per day pay'

Arjun Bijlani has completed around 2 decades in the TV Industry. The actor has been a prominent name, now on a podcast with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, Arjun got candid about the shows he did, his take on the fights in Splitsvilla, how he bagged Naagin and more.

I was there in Goa for a month. We would work for 4-5 hours and then enjoy the pool. The show's format is amazing, there would be tasks in the day for a few hours and then once in a few days there used to be a shoot at night the whole week's interaction and all. That would also begin at midnight and by 4/5 am we would be done. It was quite a fun shoot.

I would find the fights very irritating. Personally, for a person like me, I hated it. But obviously, you are the host, there is a certain way you host the show. I used to find those fights unnecessary. But then contestants come with that mindset on such shows. So that is why I like to stay away from such shows.

The only reason why people have been loving Laughter Chefs is because it changed the perception of entertainment for viewers. You can enjoy without watching fights and everything, why would one get attracted to voyeurism? It is better to not engage oneself in watching other's fights and pain.

There is no script in Laughter Chefs, all of them are their real selves and are genuinely enjoying themselves. Sometimes, some of them turn to Bigg Boss but then we keep saying 'vibe change mat kar'. It is one show the whole family can watch without any stress. If one team can give this joy to Indian Audience, then it has created history. I feel very proud that I am a part of it. The show had come as a filler for 12 episodes and then other shows would come but we continued and here we are entertaining everyone.

I didn't do TV for four years. I was hosting, I did a few shows on OTT. In OTT, I did a show there was 45 days schedule and then a gap, that happened continuously. Then there was the pandemic, but the one who has a habit of working every day cannot handle the long gaps. I felt the kind of energy I had, I needed to work. So I want to do shows, and I am even venturing into my own Production House. I want to make good projects and work on them.

Even today, A lot of people talk to me about Mile Jab Hum Tum's Mayank. I feel really grateful that people remember my character and it was a story from the college days so people would relate to it. Even today, fans watch the show as it is available online and recall those memories.

I got Naagin because of Ayaan, and that show was a game-changer for me. Ayaan was the game changer in my life, after he was born I did all hit shows. Ayaan ne life change kar di. I always give credit to Ekta Kapoor and Balaji. I remember when Ayaan was born I was offered a show Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi, I didn't want to do it as Shakti and Radhika were already there but I needed money and I didn't have work for the past year so I did the show. After my entry, the show's rating increased.

I was very happy and my track continued for 3-4 months and then they ended my track. I was really sad, then they told me that they wanted to cast me for Naagin. I was very sceptical but they convinced me. So I thought I will ask for more money and they were like, 'per day tumhara same hi rahega'. I then consulted Neha and discussed it with her. She was like 'kar lo na'. So then I agreed the same night and I told them 'I will do the show but I increased 1 rupee from my per day.' I have only seen growth.