Sony SAB’s Ziddi Dil – Maane Na has managed to strike a chord with the audience. The is currently focusing on heartwarming moments between the lead characters. Karan (essayed by Shaalien Malhotra) has finally decided to propose to Monami (essayed by Kaveri Priyam) but he is unaware of the fact that Dhanu (Bhamini Oza) has laid a trap to capture Karan and replace him with Balli. Now Bali has managed to get into the academy and is trying to keep his cover intact.
During a recent interview with India Forums, Shaalien Malhotra talked about essaying a double role in the show and shared, “I think it’s beautiful as an actor to reprise different portrayals. You feel enriched, recharged, motivated and there’s something to look forward to. You feel alive because there’s so much that you are doing. I wanted to give the audience an authentic feel for both the characters and anticipate what Balli’s next move could be. So, I had to introspect as well on how Balli would react to certain situations and how Karan would react to the same. I focused a lot on minute details to make both the characters look real and believable.”
When asked about the preparations he did to adapt to Balli’s accent and mannerisms, Shaalien replied, “My parents are the reason behind it as I’m a Punjabi. Also, the fact that he is more flamboyant gives me as an actor, the scope to explore more and eventually deliver more. That is why I always feel that villains are more famous than heroes as characters because they have more freedom to go crazy. So, if audiences love me as Karan, who is more reserved, I had to make sure they loved Balli’s character twice as much as that of Karan’s character.”
Talking about the upcoming track, he said, “I think it is a remarkable track, especially because it’s been explored after a long time. I haven’t heard of a double role like this in a while. It is not very commercial or cliched and that is going to be the main selling point of the track.”
When asked whom does he connect with more, Karan or Balli? The actor said, “Both are my reflections; I can see both the characters now when I stand in front of a mirror. The day I stop seeing either of them is the day I am being untrue to the actor that I am and the character that I play.”
Talking about the show completing 150 episodes, Shaalien said, “It has been a beautiful experience. A lot of people don’t know that this is the maximum number of episodes I’ve ever done in a show in such a short time. My first show was bi-weekly and we touched 150 in a span of one and a half or two years. So, if I am still sticking to the show, it means the show is really nice, because people are giving it a lot of love. There’s always something new to look forward to and that is the most motivational thing in the world.”