‘Television makes you a household name’

Amarjot Kaur

Television and film actor Rohan Mehra is on a transformation spree since the last four months. He ran a successful stint in shows like Sasural Simar Ka, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Bigg Boss Season 10, and is about two films old in Bollywood. “After Sasural Simar Ka got over, I started working on my appearance, especially my body. So, I have been on a salt-free, sugar-free diet since then. Also, I exercise in the gym twice a day,” says the 28-year-old Amritsar lad who became popular on television for his ‘chocolate boy’ looks. With two projects under his belt, of which he is quite apprehensive to talk about, he is now working on making his body a leaner and fit.

Look wise

As he leads us to his Facebook account, on which he flaunts his chiselled body with well-defined abs, Rohan shares that he’s being trained by Ranbir Kapoor’s former gym trainer, Pradeep Bhatia. “He trained Ranbir Kapoor for seven years and had also worked on Diljit Dosanjh’s looks for the film Soorma. I feel good looks are important, but fitness is always a priority. Look at actors like Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff! I feel confident when I work out and look fitter, with my abs showing as I remove my shirt,” he laughs it off. 

With no godfather in the industry to back him up, Rohan started modelling at the age of 19 when he was still in college; serendipity struck him at the time when he didn’t go back home for summer vacations. “I was studying in Delhi and had signed up with Elite Modelling Agency, so I landed a couple of ads. That year, I didn’t go back to Amritsar for summer vacations. I seemed to enjoy being on television very much,” he adds.

Tough competition

Having been featured in over 300 television commercials, Rohan shares that there’s only a little acting involved in ads. “But there’s a lot of competition in commercials because everyone gets a chance to be on TV and everyone wants to be successful, so you have to have a strong screen presence,” he says. Soon after doing ads, Rohan landed his first Bollywood project, a movie called Sixteen, in 2013. “That was my first break on the big screen and then I also did another film called Yuva. In fact, while in Mumbai for the promotion of Yuva, I landed a role in the TV show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and then I did Bade Acchhe Lagte Hai,” he says. 

Rohan believes that television makes an actor travel to people’s living rooms and is a strong base to have if one wants to make it big in the Bollywood industry. “As a beginner, you are not on the radar of big production houses. Television makes you a household name. Also, as a television actor, you shoot for 12 hours in a day and that prepares you for films too,” he signs off. 

[email protected]