Aww! Sharad Malhotra is tremendously special to me as I had never imagined I would be able to call him a friend someday: Hemal Dev on shooting for Vidrohi

MUMBAI: Hemal Dev is an actress in the South & Marathi Entertainment industry. She is quite active on Instagram and will be making her Hindi TV debut with Star Plus upcoming show ‘Vidrohi’ based on the life of a Freedom Fighter & a Warrior Princess. Hemal plays Warrior Princess in the show & has done a lot of preparation for the same. 

What is in store for the audience from the show?

There is so much in store for the audience! There is a lot of action, a lot of me being a part of those action sequences which we do not see very often. Women playing these kinds of powerful, action-packed roles is a rare sight in our industry. Though our show will be portraying a lot of Rajkumari Kalyani giving it right back to the firangi. In addition to that, the drama on the show is also pretty enjoyable. A lot of emotions, a lot of family drama, but in the royalty which I feel is the biggest USP of the show. We have tried to be as authentic as the era we are depicting so I am hoping the show will raise some bars. 

Tell us about the bond you share with your co-star Sharad Malhotra?

The bond I share with Sharad is tremendously special to me as I had never imagined I would be able to call him a friend someday. It was extremely nerve-wracking to meet him for the first time as he is such a huge star and I honestly did not think he would be as friendly as he has been. He is one of the sweetest people that I have ever met and I mean that with all my heart. He genuinely tries to make sure that everyone around him is comfortable and due to that, it helps us perform better by not letting the barrier between a star and a newbie be of any issue. I would like to give him all the credit for making me feel so comfortable on the sets so I could efficiently perform, leaving aside my nervousness. So kudos to him for that! 

Tell us about the bond you share with your co-stars Sulagna & Anang Ji?

Me and Sulagna are very similar people when it comes to being our own crazy selves so I genuinely enjoy my time with her. And about Anang Ji, I naturally have a lot of scenes with him as he is playing my father on the show, the King, and I would really like to go out there and say that we have developed such great chemistry due to the father-daughter relationship we share on-screen. Our off-screen chemistry has translated exceedingly well on the screen and that brings me much joy. Again, I have grown up watching him on TV and never in my life imagined I would be able to work alongside him. Infact, I had once spotted him at this tourist spot in Mahabaleshwar and I have saved that memory in a picture as a fan and here I am today, ten years down the line, working with him and sharing a frame with him once again. Back then, he had no idea who I was but today he does and I cannot begin to explain how great that feels. 

Have you taken any particular inspiration for your character? If yes, then tell us why and how has it helped you portray your character?

Before beginning to shoot for the show, I had watched a lot of ‘Mulan’ which is a Disney movie. I watched it because the protagonist Mulan, is a female warrior character and I really wanted to get my body language right so in a way yes, I have taken some inspiration from that character if not a lot. 

How are you keeping yourself fit these days?

I do Pilates thrice a week. I finish it and am on set at 8:30 sharp so I am not at all compromising with my fitness as I am playing a female warrior and it is very important for my character and me to look the part. Look strong so it's more believable. Moreover, due to the kind of action sequences we do, to be fit is of utmost importance as they are very exhausting and my body needs to be prepared for whatever is thrown my way. 

What is it like shooting for your show in the midst of this new normal?

Shooting for the show in this new normal has been pretty much the same, except that you do not get to see a lot of faces as everybody’s strictly masked on the sets. All the regulations are being followed. We have regular 

sanitation and most of us on the sets are fully vaccinated. We are trying our best to get used to the new normal and are extremely grateful for this opportunity during such trying times where most of our careers have been badly affected, courtesy to the virus. Given that, I am starting my journey on the show with a grateful heart for having the chance to work in these tough times as well. 

(Also Read: Star Plus brings new show 'Vidrohi' in October) 

What are the differences between shooting for a show vs a film?

There is a huge difference between the two. Shooting for a show is a lot more complicated than shooting for a film. Shows have deadlines, so the work has to be faster and as an actor, you need to be really sharp in terms of what your director wants and what your character demands. We do not have the luxury of prep time that we usually do when it comes to films. As an actor, being on a show really puts you on your toes and it is a lot of fun. The biggest favour shows do to us is that we become better actors in terms of attention to detail and dedication which I honestly love for myself at the moment. 

How did you spend your time during the lockdown?

I am so happy because I spent most of the time in the lockdown period by working out and I had no idea back then that I was going to bag a role where my efforts would really pay off. It is helping me so much to play Kalyani. I was not always as fit as I am today in terms of the toning that my body has and also the strength that I carry today. I have utilized the lockdown to become the version of myself that I am today and maybe I was unknowingly already preparing to be Kalyani. Who knows! It has all worked out so well at the end though and that is something that I am forever going to be grateful for. 

After working on many different platforms, which are the genres that you enjoyed being a part of?

My favourite genres to work on and to also watch are mostly thrillers and rom-coms and I have been fortunate enough to have worked on these genres before. So yes, these are my two favourite genres as thrillers really make you hold onto your seats and rom-coms have this dreamy vibe that I live and breathe for. 

Did you always want to be an actress?

Oh, this is a tough one! I always did have this one wish when I used to watch movies in the theatres, I always wanted to see myself on the 60ft screen but I did not take it that seriously as it seemed like an unattainable dream back then as I come from a small town in Maharashtra, which is Kolhapur. I did not really think that it was a realistic dream but I mean, looking back to it now, it all just seems so funny and magical in terms of how things have worked out. One day I was a naive little girl who thought she had an unachievable dream but here I am now on Star Plus and reaching so many households and hearts. It is all just extraordinarily overwhelming to me. 

Have you shot any outdoor sequences for your show?

Yes, we have shot a couple of outdoor sequences. Unfortunately, cannot reveal the names of the locations we shot at but we have been shooting in a few forests here and there. The storyline is not just drama so it is unlikely for all the shoots to happen indoors. There are a lot of things that happen outdoors as well. I cannot reveal much but I am sure the audience is going to be super thrilled when they see the kind of sequences that we have shot. 

What is the one thing you want to do once the Lockdown is lifted fully in the country?

The one thing I am super pumped about doing after the lockdown is properly lifted is ofcourse to travel! I miss travelling and I miss being able to just visit places without worrying about wearing a mask for God’s sake!

Keep reading this space for more information. (Also Read: STUNNING! Baxi Jagabandhu aka Sharad Malhotra will sweep your hearts off with Star Plus' Vidrohi)