The dashing Manav Gohil is enjoying playing Deccan emperor Krishnadevaraya in SAB TV show, Tenali Rama. “Being a powerful man, he has lots of ego and when that gets touched, it becomes dicey for Tenali (Krishna Bharadwaj). The channel and production house (Contiloe Entertainment creative team) wanted me onboard, for they wanted someone to do justice to the character.”
He goes on, “It is always interesting to play a historical. I learnt lot about the great man on the job and about the beautiful city of Hampi, which was his capital.”
Tenali Rama is among the few SAB TV shows which are working? “The work is not mediocre, like many daily soaps, where you do the same thing over and over again. Our combination of emotions, circumstances and situations which keep unfolding, is just spot on. None of the principal characters, including Rama, Tathacharya (Pankaj Berry) and me, has to try really hard; the script is so good that the magic just flows.”
After being around for 18 years, don’t you feel age is finally catching up with you? “Today, times are changing, and a lead is not determined by the actor’s age alone. Don’t Ronit Roy, Mohnish Behl, Aashif Sheikh, etc. get juicy roles? They are also not 25, right?” says Manav, who had previously done the lead in Yam Hain Hum, again on SAB TV.
But are such offers not few and far between? “Well, after doing what the hero is required to do, for so long, I’d rather try out something else.”
“Also, the money, meat in the character and time I get to spend with my family are much more than what I would get while doing leads, so no complaints,” he adds.
Looking ahead, Manav would be open to doing web series, just like better half Shweta Kawatra (Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat). “I am open for good content, be it TV, web or smaller films. Luckily, with the content market opening up, there are opportunities for one and all.”
After playing a plethora of different characters in shows such as Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Saarrthi, Saara Akaash and The Buddy Project, Manav would love to play a detective or father of a young girl, next. “Having said that, I really don’t plan my genre; rather, prefer to go with the flow. And this has helped me net diverse characters, which I had not even thought about e.g. Krishnadevaraya.”
Way to go, Manav!!