‘I am a very honest person like Vedkant Vyas’- Aanjjan Srivastav

We interviews veteran actor Aanjjan Srivastav who plays Vedkant Vyas on Colors’ Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. He commands your respect instantly and seems to be a very nice gentleman with very refined tastes. He is very amiable and modest.

What did you keep in mind while essaying the role of Vedkant Vyas?

I was told by producers Seema and Sudhir Sharma right at the outset that Vedkant Vyas is trying best to hold the mourning family together after his son Amar’s death. Being a theatre actor it is easier for me to get into the skin of the character I am to essay. I get into the psyche (thoughts and feelings) of the character I am playing.

Vedkant Vyas is however a lot like me. Vedkant is a struggling LIC agent whereas I was a banker. Vedkant never ever resorted to fraud to make money. Even when struggling to make ends meet he stayed by the path of honesty. I am a very honest person like Vedkant Vyas. I find it much easier to play positive than negative characters in real life. Vedkant is a very positive character.

While thinking of Vedkant Vyas’s relationship with his family members; I thought of how my relationship was with similar characters in real life. My daughter Nupur is a lot like Megha, she is quite intelligent like her. My real life wife Madhu is not like my reel life Saroj at all. Madhu is in fact a lot like Megha in her mannerisms. Also every family has a Renu. I have a relative who is so much like Renu.

After Megha’s wedding, your track isn’t as prominent as it used to be. Does that upset you?

Naturally after Megha’s marriage the focus will shift to her newly-wed life in her new home. However my track is on too. I have a great rapport with Seema and Sudhir Sharma. Whenever they need me on the show I will be there for them. I however think that Vedkant’s sister Bela’s role should rather gain prominence now.

I have my commitment to theatre too. Also Wagle Ki Duniya is being revived by Door Darshan. The show was based on the characters created by the renowned writer/cartoonist R.K. Laxman who had penned this legendary serial. On the show it will be nice to play ‘Detective Waghle’ as a senior citizen.

Do you think Vedkant Vyas has knowingly or unknowingly discriminated between his two sons Amar and Sanjay?

No he has not discriminated. Once again I can draw a parallel to my life while replying to this question. My eldest children are twins (I have a twin son and daughter). I was still financially struggling when my twins were born. I had no choice but to enroll them in an ordinary school. When my younger son was born I had the money to enroll him in a reputed school.

Similarly Vedkant was struggling financially when his elder son Sanjay was a school going boy. He could give his younger son Amar somewhat better education. Nevertheless there wasn’t that much of demarcation between Sanjay and Amar’s education. Amar was a brilliant student who went on to win scholarships. Sanjay wasn’t a bright student like Amar was.

How was the journey in playing Vedkant Vyas who grew from traditional to open-minded (to the extent that he arranged for the re-marriage of his daughter-in-law)?

I am after all a part of IPTA which is a progressive theatre group into social and cultural development. Likewise I like being a part of a progressive TV show like Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha too.

Don’t you think the widowed Bela has a right to fall in love and remarry too?

I firmly believe so. This show is after all on widow remarriage.

Has the TV industry improved or deteriorated from the Doordarshan days? Has the daily format brought down quality?

There has been much technical advancement. The growing TV industry has created many new jobs. The daily format has brought down quality. Nevertheless we still have great serials like Balika Vadhu. Also Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha is an excellent show. That is the very reason why I accepted the show.