Udaariyaan : Ankit Gupta Talks About Udaariyaan, His Expectation & Doing Love Scenes Onscreen

Handsome hunk Ankit Gupta, who is currently loved by fans as Fateh from Udaariyaan has come a long way in the industry. The actor started his journey as a model and began working at a call centre in Noida to meet his ends. However, destiny soon took a turn when he won a contract with a popular modelling agency and got a free portfolio from famous photographer Subi Samuel. Ankit didn’t look back and has been working hard to reach where he is today.

Ankit joined ETimes TV for an exclusive segment Tellyblazer, where he spoke about his struggling phase, rejections and more. He also opened up how not many know that he started with a cameo role in Balika Vadhu and before Udaariyaan happened to him he was signed for five TV shows, 1 film and 1 web series but none of them took off.
Did you ever imagine Udaariyaan to be such a big hit and how does it feel to be a part of such a successful show?

None of us had ever imagined that our show would become such a big hit and will be loved by fans. When I was offered the show and was told that the shooting will happen in Chandigarh, we were not very confident. I wasn’t even sure that the show would take off. When I shifted to Chandigarh for the show no one knew about the show, only Param Singh he knew that I was going to shoot a show here. Even my family didn’t know.

I came here and thought the show would run for 2/3 months and had left everything on God. The show started at 0.9 TRP and then it dropped a little and came to 0.6. There were even rumours that our show had got notice that if we don’t generate good numbers it will be pulled off-air. From there we started to take off. We first did 1.9 and we kept doing better. That time we would pray that we should at least manage to do 1.5,1.6 so that we would sail through it. But then came a time when we touched 3.1 and it was just amazing.

The shooting of Udaariyaan happens in Chandigarh. Is it difficult to stay away from family for such a long time?

I had no problems staying away from family because I was used to it. When I was in Mumbai also, I was staying alone. In fact, when I turned 17 I left my house and started earning. There were other lot of things because of which I said yes to the show. Udaariyaan is my first solo lead show, the other shows which I’ve done they mostly had some other actors. Then I had two girls opposite me in the show, so I knew I would play an important part.

Are you enjoying the new found fame and being recognised as Fateh from Udaariyaan?

It’s an amazing feeling to be accepted by the audience. It’s like now finally I am getting my due. I’ve been in the industry for a long time and have never been recognised for my work or been a household name. There have been a lot of times when we are shooting outdoors and fans are passing by and they start screaming my screen name Fateh. It feels amazing.

Did you always want to be an actor and when was the time you decided that you wanted to be a part of the showbiz industry?

I always wanted to be an actor. I would have been 12/13 when I made up my mind that I want to be an actor. I started modelling so that I could get into acting because those were the days when a lot of male models would get into acting. I thought maybe modelling can be a first step to acting.

I started modelling when I was in Noida working in a call centre. I used to do modelling part time. I did that for about 5-6 years and then I thought this is the right time to move to Mumbai. I finally came to Mumbai and started doing what I wanted.

What was your family’s response when you told them you want to be an actor?

Initially, when I told them that I want to be an actor, they were not very happy because I am from a middle class family and they wanted to finish studies and find a government job. Engineering, becoming a doctor or MBA were the options for me from their side.

My father forced me to take an NDA exam and I did that even though I didn’t want to. Finally, when I got into college I started taking tuitions and earning. I told my father he doesn’t have to support me financially and I’ll manage my expenses. He agreed. I moved to Noida and started working at a call centre and started earning money.

I’ve been lucky because for whatever I have worked for I’ve got it. Although, I had to work hard and had to do different things but I got it. I feel if you set your goals and are focused you can achieve it. In fact, I’ve never struggled in my life.

Not even for a day because everyday I was preparing myself to be what I am today. I don’t consider it as a struggle, I look at it as homework or preparations you do before the final exam. I feel struggle is a very negative word. I always say I worked hard and did whatever I could to be where I am today.

Then how did you manage your expenses since living in a city like Mumbai is not easy?

I started working at a call centre with the intention of saving money so that when I go to Mumbai I can meet my expenses. My aim was to not ask money from my parents. First two years whatever I earned I spent it on myself because that was the first time I was earning money and I felt good. I didn’t save money at that time.

Then I realised that I am not saving anything and I am not here to just enjoy life. Then I started saving money, going to the gym, contacting people for work, and got my portfolio.

There was a website where I uploaded my pictures and out of 80,000 entries, I won a title and because of that I got work from a very renowned modelling agency. I got a contract with them and a free portfolio from Subi Samuel. Things started rolling from there. When I got confidence that I can do something in acting, I moved to Mumbai.

How much did you earn as your first paycheck?

My first pay cheque was Rs 10,000. Before that I earned very little from the call centre. In fact, when I started working I didn’t get a salary from two companies. When I got my first paycheque I was so happy and totally clueless as to how I spent this money as it was a huge deal for me.

Did you face rejections and how long did it go on for?

I had to face a lot of rejection. A lot of people don’t know this but my first show was Balika Vadhu, I played a cameo role and at that point I didn’t know anything about acting. I was badly treated there. My director would never take my shot, only the assistants would take shots.

They would call me early in the morning and make me sit for the entire day and probably in the evening I would shoot a scene. My director would always be irritated with me and I understand it now. But at that time I could not understand why they were behaving like that to me.

Now, I realise I didn’t know anything about acting. Kuch hota he nahi tha uss time mujhse. When I quit Balika Vadhu I told myself that I am going to work hard and be a good actor. I started working on myself and after a year and a half I got Sadda Haq and then things changed for it.

Were there moments when you were replaced overnight by someone else?

My last show was Mayavi Maling and that was in 2018. From 2018 to 2020 I signed five TV shows, one film and one web series and none of them took off. Maybe because Udaariyaan was my destiny. That keeps happening to me and it happened till Udaariyaan happened to me, I was finalised so many times but got replaced at the last moment.

After Balika Vadhu, I was scared of acting. When I would travel for Balika Vadhu I would pray that they don’t give me any lines and just ask me to stand in a corner. Bus Mujhe acting na karni pade main itna daraa hua hota tha…. Maybe I had accepted that I am happy with ad shoots and modelling and I don’t want to act.

But slowly I realised that I can do it. I must have given at least 1000 auditions before cracking it. I never had a plan B. I see a lot of people they have this thought that kuch nahi hua toh papa ka business join kar lenge, MBA kiya hua hai toh kuch business kar lenge Yaa jab kar lenge but I never had a back up plan.

A lot of aspiring actors want to try their luck in Bollywood. Did you even try your luck there or were you always up for television?

I never had any problems working on TV. I just wanted to act and the platform did not matter to me. I actually believe in this theory that whatever is in your destiny it will find you. I believe that if you keep working hard, you will be successful.

You should be prepared for your goal as you don’t know when that opportunity arrives at your doors. I am prepared for everything now be it Bollywood, Hollywood anything.

Nowadays a lot of TV actors are getting into films and doing such great work. That thought of waiting for films and leaving TV never hit me because I am happy with the work I am doing.

These days a lot of good work is happening on OTT, but the platform has its own share of demands like use of violence, cuss words, erotic, bold or love making scenes. How comfortable are you working on OTT and do you have your set of reservations?

I’ve done a couple of OTT projects. I am open to the use of cuss words or action shows. I did whatever my character required. One thing I totally believe that no script in the world demands sex. That is the one thing probably I won’t do onscreen. That is my reservation, you won’t see me making love on-screen as I am not comfortable.

I am fine with everything else. I feel as an actor I am naked and it is the maker’s hand how he wants to mold me according to his script. As I said no script in the world demands sex except porn (laughs). If I am strongly convinced about something I might give it a shot but otherwise I won’t.