The character of Raavan is larger than life: Arya Babbar

We in conversation with Arya Babbar aka the Raavan of Sony TV’s Sankar Mochan Mahabali Hanuman…

Bollywood actor Arya Babbar, rose to fame on television by entering in the house of Bigg Boss 8, is doing his first fiction show on television. The talented actor is all set to be seen as Raavan of Sony TV’s newly launched mythological series, Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan (Contiloe Produtions).

In a conversation with us, Arya reveals that how he feels about getting decked up as Raavan and much more about the preparations he has done for it.

How has been your experience shooting as Raavan for the show so far?

It’s the first time that I am doing a fiction show on television and I am really very excited about it. It’s such a big show on Sony TV from Contiloe Films. I am playing the role of Raavan who is going to bring all the Sankat in Hanumaan’s life. There is not a bigger negative character than Raavan in this entire universe. My experience shooting has been fantastic so far and I am enjoying myself in this role. The character is larger than life. Television has so many women oriented shows so as a male actor when you get an opportunity to play a strong and powerful role on Television, it excites you. And Raavan is one such colorful character. It’s been a great experience till now.

It’s your first fiction show on television. What made your opt for the role?

When I was offered for this role I saw that Raavan’s character has so much to play with and so much can be done. So far whoever has played Raavan, has played it with two flavors till now – anger and ego. We haven’t seen any other emotions of Raavan other than these and nothing else has been understood about him. We just know that Raavan is a big fat man who keeps laughing and screaming but there is more to act in it. He is a very intelligent, powerful and strong personality. Though he was a Brahman, he is known for being a demon. He was not as egoistic about his power as much as he was of his brain. This is the kind of Raavan that I want to play. I want people to remember this Raavan as a Genext Raavan who is mischievous and unpredictable.

So, this Raavan is going to be different from all other Raavans we have seen earlier?

It’s completely different from all the other Raavans we have seen on-screen so far. From his looks, to performance and to his style and this time we are going to have a good looking Raavan (laughs) and I am really looking forward to it.

Tell us something about the preparations you have done for this role?

I have studied a lot for this role. I have read Agyaat Raavan and Asura for playing this role. I have worked upon my Hindi pronunciation and practised speaking difficult Hindi words daily to make my tongue and vocal chords ready for words. I have worked and re-worked upon my scenes with my directors and actors till the time it got into me. I have also worked upon my body language for this role. I have practised performing by wearing the costume at my place, to make myself look comfortable. Because when I perform in front of the camera, it should look costumes are part of me and I have not put it upon me just like that. I have been gyming a lot and I have bulked up for this role because I needed to look really big for this character, I grew huge.

How much time do you take to get yourself decked up as Raavan?

Only wearing that takes around 20 minutes. Then, I take around 45 minutes to do my make up because the eye make-up is different, they put a Tika on my forehead, change the complexion of my face, work upon my mustache and do a different kind of styling.

How has Bigg Boss changed your life?

I entered the house with a motive that people should know about my book and when I came out people already knew about it and my book became one of the best-sellers. The show has given me a lot of recognition. I am very thankful to Big Boss and the entire team associated with that show. The show has also given me a brother for life – Upen Patel. Now he is in Nach Baliye 7 and I really appeal to the people to vote for UpMa; that’s how Upen and Karishma (Karishma Tanna) are known as (smiles).

Any message for your fans?

Very humbly I would like to say it all my fans that you all have always supported me, unconditionally, in whatever I have done. Sometimes I have done well while sometimes I was bad. This time I am going to entertain you all a lot. I request you to watch me as Raavan and its going to be very different shade of my personality on the show.