After the success of his maiden Gujarati film, Lamboo Rastoo, TV actor, Jay Soni, is feeling quite high. “The best part is that this film allowed me to come out of the comedy space and become a proper hero, doing all the filmy stuff on screen.”

He had tasted major success in the light genre, with shows such as Baa Bahoo Aur Baby and Sasural Genda Phool. “I have dabbled in serious genres as well, eg. Sanskaar – Dharohar Apno Ki and Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi. But yes, I was always known as the comic guy; hope all this changes for the better. However, doing the film was no walk in the park, for I really had to spruce up my language skills. Despite being a Gujarati, I was not adept at its pure version. At the very outset, I made my doubts clear with the director, who assured me that he would help me out, which he surely did; and I am thankful to him for the same.”

“It feels great to receive so much audience love and affection (picked up best debutant award for the same). Gujarati audiences really warm up seeing someone of their own, and speak to him in the local lingo.”

Looking ahead, Jay is game for meatier Gujju flicks. “Sadly, the Gujarati film industry hasn’t fully come out of the herd syndrome. But luckily, now things are on the mend, and differentiated, performance-oriented concepts are also being toyed around with. Soon a time will come when the Gujarati film industry will run neck to neck with other upcoming regional film industries like Punjabi.”

Jay, who was last seen in Colors show, Bhaag Bakool Bhaag, wants to return to the tube, “But now need something really worth my while.”

Having said that, he also realizes the limitation of the format. “I am hoping to net the occasional brilliance that might come my way.” Apart from TV, Jay is also open to web series, “Which lets us TV actors come out of the above format limitations. It is the new in thing.”

However, Jay would not be game for stories that have bold stuff just to grab eyeballs. “If these elements are a part of the narrative of the story, then I would have no issues.”