Sagar Parekh, who is currently seen in Tera Yaar Hu Mein, talks about his journey

Tell us a bit about your background…

I studied in Mussoorie and was then supposed to join my family business. But my mother encouraged me to move to Mumbai from Patna and pursue acting. And, the rest, as they say, is history.

How did you get your first break?

There was an advertisement on Facebook that was about the requirement of a young actor for Gumrah. My mother sent my pictures to the casting director and that’s how I got my first show. My dad was supportive too and was ready to take the risk of sending me to Mumbai. I was lucky to have got roles in shows like Internet Wala Love, RajaaBetaa and Meri Gudiya.

Did you face any struggle?

The real struggle began after Gumrah. I had to learn a lot of things about the industry and that took me a very long time. This resulted in losing out on work and even auditions. Slowly I realised that I needed to find out if my auditions were reaching the right people because a lot of times it did not, and I came to know about it later.

You are just 23. So, is this an advantage in getting roles?

The good part is that I can take things slowly and have no intention of rushing into them. But there are certain disadvantages too. When you are aged between 22 and 25, you neither look too young, nor too mature. So, you are stuck in between and therefore finding right roles at this age is really tough.

Your current show Tera Yaar Hu Mein is about friends. What is your view on friendship?

Friendship is family, away from family. Friends are your support system. We are lucky if we have this one true friend in our lives, who never leaves our side.

What changes did you see in the industry over the years?

I think much has changed in the last five years. When I entered this profession, there was no OTT. But see how within three-four years OTT has taken this industry to a new level. It has opened so many doors for everyone, from actors to technicians. The industry is developing and adapting to changes, much like the audience, who have now become more accepting.

What did you learn from the pandemic?

I learnt how to be disciplined, respect my work, take care of my health and be there for my family.

If not an actor, what would you have been?

If acting had not happened, I would’ve joined my family business. In fact, I still dream of running a business someday.