Shagun Pandey: Television is 70mm for me

Until he ventures into films and OTT, Shagun Pandey is determined to make the most of his journey on television. The actor, currently seen as Ved in Saru, shares, “Television is 70 MM for me. I try to bring something new to every character, even though people often say there’s no need for that in TV, since we shoot 11 scenes a day. Just stick to one look, keep going, and make your money. But I believe in putting in the effort. I’m glad that even though TV is considered a woman-oriented medium, I’ve been offered strong characters and opportunities to shine. I try to justify every opportunity. Kya top Bollywood producer mauka denge tabhi hum achha kaam karenge? Main toh nukkad naatak mein bhi poori shiddat se kaam karta tha. I’m here to transform television, not leave it. All the leading men and women may have moved to other platforms, but I’m happy where I am. Movie aur OTT jab hoga tab dekhenge.”Originally from Chandigarh, Shagun moved to Mumbai after honing his craft through street theatre, stage performances, and a diploma from the National School of Drama. He recalls, “When I came to Mumbai, log bolte the, ‘Itne log acting mein aa rahe hain, Shagun Pandey kya banega?’ They would ask my mother, ‘Itne good-looking aspirants ke beech tumhara beta kya karega?’ I didn’t know what the chances were, but I had strong hope. I just didn’t want to regret not following my heart. So, I kept taking small steps.”He adds, “I assisted a casting coordinator in Mumbai for a few years. I would record auditions of known actresses and quietly submit my own at the end, hoping the coordinator would forward them too. From playing a brother, a transgender and even negative roles to now taking on leads, I’ve slowly made my way.”Shagun feels it’s time for male actors to get stronger parts on Hindi television. He says, “On TV, the camera often does more acting than the actor. That needs to change. I also want men to have equal screen time. Ghar mein jab kuch hota hai, toh salaah mardon se bhi li jaati hai. Toh TV shows mein hum sirf peeche kyun khade hote hain aur auratein hi kyu bolti hain? When women ask for pay parity and better roles in films, they raise valid points. I want to say the same thing for men on TV. I want to do equal parts.”He concludes, “It’s time to redefine television. I don’t want aspiring actors to believe they don’t need to prepare because TV mein toh kharaab acting bhi chal jaati hai. I want to create content that reflects my thinking. Abhi toh acting karne ka mauka hi mushkil se mila hai. But someday, I want to become a maker. I may be a small dot in the industry now, but with a strong body of work, I hope to reach a position of power and give back to this industry.”