From Moga to Mumbai

Manpriya Singh 

There is something heart-warming about stories that begin from small towns and take-off in big cities; not to forget the journey in between. So before Sahil Vedoliyaa, an actor and freelance anchor with PTC Punjabi, can let you in on his first brush with Bollywood, he takes you back to his school days in Moga, followed by college life in Chandigarh. “I was in SD College and that’s when, to earn extra pocket money, I started  with mimicry, theatre and anchoring,” shares the artiste, who was seen hosting Voice of Punjab on PTC Punjabi. “In 2009, I joined the field professionally and my first TV break was in 2010 for MH1 channel. 

Having done his fair share of corporate and freelance anchoring, including all the sports leagues, it was time to branch out. “I have hosted the red carpet for several award shows, including Hockey League, Kabaddi League, Badminton League and more,” he shares, while laughing off the fact that how his first Punjabi film, Pooja Kiwein Hai (2013), sank without a trace. 

Good, bad & the ugly 

It’s showbiz; there are certain things that have to be either shrugged off or taken in one’s stride. “I also auditioned for a role, opposite Deepika Padukone, in the film Piku, but they did not cast me because they wanted a much more mature looking guy,” shares the 29- year-old, who is now finally excited about October.   

Behind the scenes 

Having been in touch with the casting director for Shoojit Sircar, who happens to be Jogi Malang  for the last four years, it was time for him to be at the right place. “He called me for auditions and all I knew was that I was auditioning for a Shoojit Sircar film,” he shares of the first round of three auditions. 

“Next audition was as a hospitality-trainee outfit with trousers, coat and a tie. That’s when I came to know that it was for the hero’s friend’s role.” Well, talented as they always are, the actors who play hero’s friend, they are often never given their due in the film, or the industry. He says, “I understand the point, but when I was told that the casting team had at least 500 to 600 GB of data of auditions just for my role, I was overwhelmed.” 

Sircar & Varun Dhawan  

The shooting of the movie actually started last October and of the total 39 shoot schedule for the entire movie, he shot for 15 to 18 days. “I was given only one brief over the phone by the director; to not act and just be natural.” 

As for Varun Dhawan, his co-star in the movie, “Varun doesn’t have star attitude at all. In fact, he is a very down-to-earth, humble and a nice guy. He never showed stardom on the sets and is quite approachable. I asked him a lot of questions to do with fitness, which he is really into.”