Anant Vijay, who was recently seen in the web series 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein', talks about his journey in the industry so far

How has your journey been till now?

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It has been going very well, so I have no complaints. I have always been active with theatre. Later, when I came to Mumbai, the television industry gave me a different identity. I started my journey without any expectations and am happy where I am today.

How has your family supported you in your journey?

They have been the strongest pillars of strength for me. And I have never liked the phrase struggle. My family has always believed in my talent. My father was in civil defence and now retired, my brother is a lawyer and my mother is a homemaker. I owe a lot to them.

What sort of response are you getting for your character, Golden, in Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein?

The kind of feedback I am getting for this series is overwhelming. It was a great experience to be associated with actors like Saurabh Shukla, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Shweta Tripathi.

Whom do you consider your mentor?

My mentor is Lokesh Jain, a well-known name in the theatre world. He has given me very good advice, always. He says, ‘acting is like entering into a black tunnel, sometime you will get dust and sometime diamond. You need to explore this yourself.’ I always remember this before approaching any new role.

How comfortable are you in the city of dreams, Mumbai?

Mumbai is quite a welcoming city. I came to Mumbai and had work. Gradually, this has become a home for me. Mumbai has so many stories, which can teach you so many things.

You have been quite consistent on OTT platforms; how will you sum up the experience?

The amount of love and appreciation I have received from the OTT audience has made me more responsible towards my craft. I just cannot repeat my roles. I will look for fresh experience with every role and that will be my gift to the audience.

One particular cause that you would like to work for and why?

I am from the hills of Kumaon, so somehow I am inclined towards architecture and designing. I would like to do something for the buildings in Kumaon. Also, the craftsmen over there are extremely talented and I would like to help them.

What has pandemic taught you?

The main skill that I have learnt properly is cooking. This pandemic has taught us to be calm in life and not rush after things. During the first wave of Covid, I rescued one dog and adopted it. That is a very good gift!

What are your hobbies?

I am a man with a lot of hobbies. The current one is knitting and it is self-taught. I have made a long scarf and also gifted my parents. I am also into painting and writing.