Before I got my first big show, I was ready to go back: Namik Paul

Namik Paul, who began his acting career with Qubool Hai, is currently seen in the fantasy series Naagin 7. His journey into acting, however, was anything but straightforward. Leaving behind a steady job in media to move to Mumbai, Namik stepped into the industry without a roadmap — armed only with belief and patience.

The struggle to land his first project tested him early on. Reflecting on that phase, he says, “Initially, when I started, there was no blueprint as to how to figure my way in this industry. I just heard stories about people being noticed and getting cast. So I didn’t know what exactly to do to get my first project.”

That uncertainty almost led him to walk away. “Before I got my first big show, I was ready to go back. I thought this had been an experiment, and it hasn’t worked out the way I thought it would,” he admits. Ironically, letting go of pressure became the turning point. “I kind of gave my first audition without pressure. I said let’s just see if it works out, I’m probably going back soon. And I got my first show, Qubool Hai. After that, the calls started coming in,” he shares.

Yet, as Namik points out, consistent work doesn’t eliminate the industry’s uncertainties. In a space increasingly driven by social media numbers, he remains clear about where he stands. “There have been calls where they’ve said they’re looking for someone with a certain number of followers,” he says, adding that digital validation has never been his goal. “It’s very hard for me to get the motivation to post on social media. My posts are months apart. If it’s organic, great. But chasing that — that’s not what I came here to do,” says the actor.