Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Jay Zaveri: Acting is in my blood

Jay Zaveri: Acting is in my blood
ASJAD NAZIR
By ASJAD NAZIRSep 14, 2022

Fans of TV serials like The Gone Game, Ishq Mein Marjawan 2, Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega, and Mere Sai will be familiar with the work of Jay Zaveri.

The talented actor is currently playing a key role in Sony Entertainment television series Appnapan – Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan, which commenced broadcast in June.

It continues an exciting journey for the small-screen star, who has been passionate about acting from a young age.

Eastern Eye caught up with him to discuss his new show, acting, the best advice he ever got, and what he wants to master.

What first connected you to acting?

I guess acting is in my blood. My father always wanted to be an actor, but he became a Gujarati play producer. So, I was always associated with the industry since childhood and that’s how I got connected to acting. It has remained ever since.

You have played a variety of roles, but which one is closest to your heart?

It has to be Das Ganu Maharaj from Mere Sai. That was also the most challenging role to play. I guess working on that project brought out the best in me.

What has the experience of working in your new show Appnapan – Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan been like?

It has been an amazing experience. It was challenging in the beginning but once I got the gist of the character it has been a lovely experience.

What has been your favourite moment from the Apnapan journey so far?

I feel the journey has just started for Apnapan. But so far, I am loving the chemistry between me and Cezanne Khan. The bromance which we have on screen has been amazing. I love doing scenes with him and it comes out naturally as well.

Why do you think the show is so loved?

I guess this particular show is a family drama but the take on it is modern. The style of acting in it is modern and it’s not like the typical TV drama show, which we have right now. The story is pacey.

What do you enjoy watching as an audience?

As an audience, I either watch good comedies or suspense thrillers.

What is the best advice you ever got?

The best advice that I have got during my initial days was, ‘keep your eyes and ears open. Understand what is going on around you and listen to other people so that you can

deliver accordingly’. This advice has not only helped me in acting but in general as well.

If you could master something new, what would it be?

I guess if I had to master something then it would be writing and directing, because I just love the craft of filmmaking.

Why do you love being an actor so much?

I feel that an actor is one person who brings the vision of the writer, directors, creative team, and everyone else involved into reality. If someone has a vision, the actor actually performs it and brings that particular character to life. I love being an actor because I can play different roles and characters. And I just love the craft.

Related News

‘Majboor’ at 50: Revisiting Amitabh Bachchan’s timeless thriller and its most iconic moments
Culture

‘Majboor’ at 50: Revisiting Amitabh Bachchan’s timeless thriller and its most iconic moments

Dharmesh Patel
Kani Kusruti: India’s hidden gem shines bright on global screens
Culture

Kani Kusruti: India’s hidden gem shines bright on global screens

Asjad Nazir

More For You

Shafina Jaffer

Works are painted on bark cloth from Lake Victoria

shafinart

Shafina Jaffer to unveil Whispers Under Wings at Mall Galleries, London

Highlights:

  • Artist Shafina Jaffer presents a new chapter of her Global Conference of the Birds series.
  • The exhibition runs from 7–12 October 2025 at Mall Galleries, London.
  • Works are painted on bark cloth from Lake Victoria, combining spiritual themes with ecological concerns.

Exhibition details

Artist Shafina Jaffer will open her latest exhibition, Whispers Under Wings (Global Conference of the Birds), at the Mall Galleries in London on 7 October 2025. The show will run until 12 October 2025.

This practice-led series reinterprets Farid ud-Din Attar’s 12th-century Sufi allegory, Conference of the Birds, reflecting on themes of unity, self-realisation and the idea that the Divine resides within.

Keep ReadingShow less
Glowborne

Each character in the set has been carefully designed to reflect cultural narratives

Glowborne

Anika Chowdhury reimagines chess with Glowborne, reviving its South Asian and East African origins

Highlights:

  • British-Bangladeshi prop maker Anika Chowdhury has designed a handcrafted glow-in-the-dark chess set celebrating heritage and identity.
  • The limited-edition set, called Glowborne, launches on Kickstarter in October.
  • Each piece draws from South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African cultural references, re-rooting chess in its origins.
  • The project blends art, storytelling, and representation, aiming to spark conversations about identity in play.

Reimagining chess through heritage

When Anika Chowdhury sat down to sculpt her first chess piece, she had a bigger vision than simply redesigning a classic game. A British-Bangladeshi prop maker working in the film industry, she grew up loving fantasy and games but rarely saw faces like hers in Western storytelling.

“Chess originated in India, travelled through Arabia and North Africa, and was later Westernised,” she explains. “I wanted to bring those forgotten origins back to the board.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Piranhas’ police box

The piece was originally one of nine works that appeared across London in August 2024

Getty Images

Banksy’s ‘Piranhas’ police box heads to London Museum

Highlights:

  • Banksy’s ‘Piranhas’ artwork, painted on a police sentry box, is being stored ahead of display at London Museum.
  • The piece was originally one of nine works that appeared across London in August 2024.
  • It will form part of the museum’s new Smithfield site, opening in 2026.
  • The City of London Corporation donated the artwork as part of its £222m museum relocation project.

Banksy’s police box artwork in storage

A Banksy artwork known as Piranhas has been placed in storage ahead of its future display at the London Museum’s new Smithfield site, scheduled to open in 2026. The piece features spray-painted piranha fish covering the windows of a police sentry box, giving the illusion of an aquarium.

From Ludgate Hill to Guildhall Yard

The police box, which had stood at Ludgate Hill since the 1990s, was swiftly removed by the City of London Corporation after Banksy confirmed authorship. It was initially displayed at Guildhall Yard, where visitors could view it from behind safety barriers. The Corporation has since voted to donate the piece to the London Museum.

Keep ReadingShow less
DDLJ director Aditya Chopra earns UK Stage Debut Awards nod for 'Come Fall in Love'

Aditya Chopra (right) with his father, Yash Chopra

YRF

DDLJ director Aditya Chopra earns UK Stage Debut Awards nod for 'Come Fall in Love'

BOLLYWOOD filmmaker Aditya Chopra was last Thursday (21) named among the nominees of the UK Stage Debut Awards for his Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, performed at Manchester’s Opera House earlier this year.

Chopra delivered a blockbuster in 1995 with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, popular as DDLJ, with Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead roles. It was adapted to a theatrical production and had its UK premiere in May.

Keep ReadingShow less
viral qawwali group UK tour

The group have introduced fresh orchestral elements and added instruments to expand their live sound

Qawwal Group

Shahbaz Fayyaz Qawwal Group brings viral energy and rich heritage to UK tour

Highlights:

  • The Shahbaz Fayyaz Qawwal Group return to the UK with a nationwide tour after viral success online.
  • The ensemble of brothers blend centuries-old qawwali traditions with fresh improvisations that connect with young audiences.
  • From Pakistan to the USA and UK, their performances have won acclaim for their electrifying energy and spiritual depth.
  • Fans can expect new instruments, reimagined classics, and the same message of love and harmony at this year’s shows.

From viral sensation to global stages

When a performance goes viral, it can change an artist’s career overnight. For the Shahbaz Fayyaz Qawwal Group, their stirring renditions of Bhar Do Jholi and B Kafara propelled them from local fame in Pakistan to global recognition, amassing millions of views across platforms. What set them apart was not just the power of their voices, but the way their music resonated with younger listeners who were hearing qawwali with fresh ears.

That viral momentum soon carried them beyond borders, leading to major performances in the United States and the UK. “It wasn’t just one track,” the group explained. “We revived older gems like Kali Kali Zulfon and Dil Pukare Aaja in our own style, and those went viral again, showing that qawwali still speaks across generations.”

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc
Contact Us