Sahill Uppal: The shorter format has allowed me to experiment as an actor

Sahill Uppal, currently seen as Vikram in Naagin 7, is exploring newer storytelling formats beyond television. He recently shot for a YouTube series, Koi Naam Na Do, a romance directed and produced by writer Zaheer Shaikh that looks at a complex emotional dynamic between two individuals navigating love and identity.

Speaking about the shift, Sahill, who has been part of TV shows like Ek Shringaar Swabhiman, Shakti - Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, Pinjra Khoobsurti Ka, and Pandya Store, says, “YouTube has a massive audience, and the kind of reach and connection you get with viewers here is unique. While I’ve been active on the platform this year with my wife on our channel, Sahil Aakriti Ki Storiyan, this is my first professional YouTube series. Television has a certain rhythm, but the shorter format has allowed me to step out of that space and experiment as an actor. The scenes here feel very real. Sometimes it is not about the lines at all. The silence speaks louder, and the unsaid moments are where the honesty of the story comes through.”

Portraying a story centred on a same-sex relationship required a sensitive approach. The actor, who plays Anshul in the series, shares, “The first step was accepting that people are different. They feel differently and love differently. And love, however different it may be, is still love.”

To prepare for the role, Sahill engaged closely with real experiences. He says, “I connected with friends from the gay community and had heart-to-heart conversations with them. That made me realise that emotions like attraction, heartbreak and the effort needed to sustain a relationship are universal, irrespective of one’s sexuality. Inputs from members of the community were invaluable in portraying the characters truthfully. It also helped me understand that love and emotional connection go beyond labels and allowed me to develop a more empathetic perspective.”