Akshay Kharodia: From struggle to TV stardom

HOW AKSHAY KHARODIA WENT FROM HUNGER TO SMALL-SCREEN SUCCESS

TV DRAMA series Pandya Store has been a huge success since it premiered on Star Plus in January and introduced audiences to Akshay Kharodia. He plays a pivotal role in the family drama with a strong ensemble cast, which has passed 100 episodes, and recently starred in a music video opposite established actress Krystle D’Souza.

Receiving acclaim and a fast-growing fan base has been a well-deserved reward for a talented actor who has worked his way up from the bottom and admits to not having money for food during his days of struggle.

Eastern Eye caught up with the dashing newcomer and someone you will be hearing about in future to discuss his struggle, working on Pandya Store, acting hero and future hopes.

What first connected you to acting?

Hunger. At that time, I had no money so that has been the greatest driving force.

How did you feel about landing a role in the series Pandya Store?

The feeling has been really great. I have always wanted to be part of such a show. In today’s times, people live in one house, but they don’t share a bond. This show gives a message of family bonding and ‘co-existing happily’. So, I feel good that I am doing this show.

What has the experience of working on the series been like?

It has been a very good learning experience. I think that TV actors are the most hardworking actors because each day you get a fresh script and in five minutes you have to give your shot. You don’t get enough time to go through the script. So, it’s a tough process.

What has been the biggest highlight of working on the show?

I think there are pros and cons to everything, but I always focus on the positive side. I have got a great team and production house. So, the main highlight is that we live like a family.

What was it like starring in your recent music video with Krystle D’Souza?

I didn’t really know Krystle before because I never watched television that much. But yes, I knew of her. But it was a great experience shooting with her. I was impressed by her nature and how she conducts herself. How you behave with others is a very attractive quality and Krystle is good with everybody. So, it was great working with her.

What is the acting master plan going forward and do you have a dream role?

I think destiny is the greatest master planner. Covid has chopped all the plans we

made, but my focus is only on learning right now. I’m learning from every actor throughout the show. Talking about my dream role, I always want to play a good human, maybe sometimes go versatile and play a villain or something like Prithviraj Chauhan in a historical show.

Who is your acting hero?

Every actor has a different personality because his way of acting is different and as an actor, I feel you should be different. Otherwise, people will say you are a duplicate of another actor. So, I think you should have your originality and rawness. And I connect with Shah Rukh Khan. We have grown up watching his films. He is a superstar and I have learned so much from him.

What do you enjoy watching as an audience member?

As an audience, I love south Indian action films. Their action and family dramas are amazing. It is a combination of romance, drama, and action. So, I love those kind of films.

Tell us something not many people know about you?

People think I am a person born with a silver spoon and come from a well-known

background, but this is not true. I have struggled a lot. I had no money to even eat when I got my first role and was living on vada pav. People think I look good, so I have good money, but it’s not true. My family is well settled but I have had my own share of struggles. No godfather helped me to reach here. I have done 300 commercials because I have given more than 2,000 auditions.

What inspires you?

Whenever people say this can’t be done, that inspires me and pushes me to do it with even more efficiency. That gives me a different kind of a high.

Why do you love being an actor?

In India, everyone has grown up watching films. An actor gives out a social message, making entertainment the catalyst so people can absorb it easily. Nobody listens to politicians, but when an actor speaks through his acting, the audience laughs, cries and connects to it. I really want to inspire people.