TV actor Kartikey Malviya, known for his portrayal of Shanidev in ‘Karmaphal Daata Shani,’ has made a comeback to the screen after ‘RadhaKrishn’ to revisit the iconic role in Colors TV’s ongoing show ‘Shiv Shakti – Tap Tyaag Tandav.’
After nearly eight years, Malviya is set to embark on a nostalgic journey reprising the character. In an exclusive interview with ItsEZone.com, Kartikey shares his thoughts on returning to the role, the new challenges he faces, the pressures and the expectations surrounding his performance.
Here are some excerpts from the conversation:
- Revisiting the character of Shanidev and challenges:
“I am really happy to get the chance to play this character again. It’s a wonderful role that I have enjoyed before and it has helped me prove myself as an actor. This time around, we are adding some new elements to the character. The biggest change is that in the previous show, we showed Shanidev in a positive light. Now in ‘Shiv Shakti,’ we are exploring his negative side. It’s going to be quite a challenge because people liked me as the cute and positive Shanidev before. Now, I have to balance between being a villain and staying true to Shanidev’s character. I can’t be too loud or too calm; I have to find the right balance throughout the show.”
- Preparation for the role:
“The character of Shanidev is similar to me because I portrayed it by imagining how I would react to situations. We were the first to show Shanidev’s positive side, so I kept it that way. It’s like my own character. However, on set, my directors, creative team and even my mom suggested I watch a few episodes of ‘Karmaphal Daata Shani’ to see how I played the character before and what I can change this time. So, that’s how I have been preparing this time.”
- Meeting the expectations of the audience:
“The audience expects a lot from me because I have already set a high standard for myself, which I now have to surpass. There’s definitely pressure, but all we can do is work hard and do justice to this character. This time, we are showing a different side of Shanidev and we are taking our time with each shot to make it unique. We believe the audience is smart enough not to compare it to the previous portrayal. We are just offering a fresh perspective, showing Shanidev before he became ‘Karmaphal Daata Shani.’ Eventually, he will evolve into that character. Our goal is to meet the audience’s expectations through hard work.”
- Nostalgia:
Working on the sets again brings back memories from when we started ‘Karmaphal Daata Shani.’ Back then, we took our time with every scene, experimenting with Shanidev’s look and body language. It feels nostalgic because we are doing the same things now, with the same team and crew. It’s a great feeling to revisit this character.
