Exclusive - Pavitra Rishta fame Rithvik Dhanjani on facing rejections at the beginning of his career: I’ve never cared what other people think about me

Rithvik Dhanjani shot to fame with fiction shows like Pyaar Ki Yeh EK Kahani, Pavitra Rishta and is currently one of the popular names of Indian Television. The actor has not only been part of daily soaps but has also done a series of reality shows as a contestant and host. He recently forayed into fiction space and tasted success with shows like Cartel and a short film Arranged. Rithvik joined ETimes TV for an exclusive chat and spoke about completing 11 years in the Television industry, staying away from daily soaps, facing rejections, his struggle with weight and his fitness regime. (Photo: Instagram)

It’s like I am back home. It’s a wonderful feeling because acting is something which I love the most. Now, back-to-back my fiction shows are releasing and there are other projects which I’ve signed on to, so it’s very exciting and a beautiful feeling. (Photo: Instagram)

I’ve completed 11 years in the industry and I feel it is one of the most fulfilling experiences until now. Main chota sa tha jab maine sapna dekha tha ke main Mumbai aaunga aur actor banunga. I will work on television and in films and look like I am living my dreams. Nothing can get better than this. I am a very lucky and blessed guy. (Photo: Instagram)

I am not away from television, I still do my reality shows. But yes, I’ve been away from prime time television shows because I haven’t really found anything interesting after Pavitra Rishta for me to sort of dwell into it. That’s why I haven’t really picked up anything. Also because of the large space that has opened up on the OTT space, there are so many amazing stories that are coming into play and it is making me more excited. It is acting at the end of the day and for me the medium doesn’t matter. I am happy I am getting scripts and opportunities to perform on the web. (Photo: Instagram)

My journey has not been a smooth sailing one of course there have been a lot of rejections. I won’t call it struggle as I do not resonate with the word struggle. I have faced a lot of rejections and they are a part of every actor’s life. The good thing is maine bachpan se leke ab tak, I’ve never cared what other people think about me, which is a blessing in disguise. Kabhi reject bhi hota tha, toh lagta tha yaar agli baar phir try kar lenge. Today you might not like my performance, tomorrow I might do something where you might like me. It has never bothered me, so there have been a lot of rejections before the final yes.(Photo: Instagram)

I do everything that’s possible to not put on weight. I workout at least six times a week. I take a one day break in between. I watch what I eat. I usually depend on fasting, that's one of the things that has really helped me. I fast between 16-20 hours a day and I’ve fasted 23 hours today. (Photo: Instagram)

Let’s not attach the word diet to anything because then automatically in your brain you are restricting yourself that these are the things you should not eat. That’s not a healthy way to live and you are not going to sustain it for a long time. It’s much better to enjoy your food and maybe if you pad it up with fasting then in your eating window, you eat the things you like. Not eating the foods you like is not healthy. (Photo: Instagram)

I love being an actor and that’s what keeps me sane. I love it. (Photo: Instagram)

No, I am not the arranged marriage kind of guy. I would want to know my partner, I would want to know whether or not I will be able to spend the rest of my life with her. Say no arranged marriage setup for me. (Photo: Instagram)