Megha is a Ray of sunshine on TV

THE YOUNG STAR OPENS UP ABOUT HER DEBUT, COVID SETBACK AND FUTURE

by ASJAD NAZIR

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TALENTED newcomer Megha Ray made an immediate impact with a winning debut in Dil Yeh Ziddi Hai and all was going amazingly well until Cov­id-19 cut the ZEE TV serial short.

This was a childhood dream come true for a bright young talent, who audi­tioned and then brought a challenging role to life. The massive learning experi­ence saw her work hard to take in all as­pects of production, from getting into character to the technical side. The pop­ular young star also got used to working 13-hour days for 40-45 day stretches without leave and has set herself up for a bright career.

Eastern Eye caught up with Megha Ray to talk about her head-turning entry into acting, getting cut short by Covid-19 and future hopes.

What connected you to acting?

As a kid, I used to go with my parents to watch movies and would feel im­pacted afterwards, like the story changed me in a way like never be­fore. I was pretty certain it wasn't just me, but every­body else who was in theatres watch­ing the movie. So even when I was really small, I had the thought that an actor in a story playing a charac­ter had this amazing ability to touch millions of lives, and impact them positively. That thought mesmerised me and connected me to the art.

What was the highlight of doing your debut se­rial Dil Yeh Ziddi Hai?

First of all, seeing my­self on TV was the most amazing experi­ence and one of my happiest moments so far. I had a dream of seeing myself on TV and the big screen, so when the first one came true, I felt like I was in some other world.

It was pretty emotional with the way my parents reacted and that was a major dream come true. A second highlight was performing for an award function. I was a background dancer as a kid and always wanted to be centre-stage, with all eyes on me. So finally, that happened and I was dancing in the centre with a spot­light on me. I realised I had come a long way from a background dancer to a star.

What was the biggest thing you learned working on the serial?

I think managing myself and my mind. It's definitely not easy, even if you are doing something you love, as there are tonnes of things to manage, including your sleep cycle, health and exercise, be­cause at the end of the day when you are in front of the screen you also have to look good. Just working hard is not sufficient, as you have to look your best in front of the camera, which was something I wasn't used to. So, it takes some skills and a good amount of mental strength to pri­oritise your life with whatever is impor­tant and acting accordingly.

How upsetting was it that your drama serial suddenly went off air due to Covid-19?

Extremely upsetting as it was my first show. I couldn't believe it was true and tried to accept it. Had it been a regular life thing, our show would have had a logical end and wouldn't have been called off abruptly without any warning. But I had no idea, so it was pretty shock­ing. For a week, I was pretty blank, but it started sinking in and it then hit me hard. I somehow managed to not cry and the only reason I could do that was be­cause I decided to focus on so many oth­er horrible things that were going on outside, and my problem was not that big. So many people lost their jobs and many were suffering, so I decided to be strong and look at it positively.

What is the plan going forward?

TV shooting has started again so I am looking forward to being a part of some good stories, hopefully. It gets high rat­ings, but I am not a fan of promoting re­gressive content. I am not criticising any­thing as such, it’s just my personal pref­erence that I want to be a part of stories that can make audiences smile and make them feel motivated. So on TV, that’s the type of feel-good content I want to be a part of. At the moment I am focusing more on TV, but am open to doing web series and movies.

What kind of roles do you want to play?

I always wanted to play an action-based character, as I am athletic that way and a dancer. I wanted to play a superhero be­cause I am a big-time DC fan, so would love that. I would like to play an army person, a cop or a detective; something in crime I haven't explored yet.

Who is your own acting hero?

I admire a lot of actors, but in current times it is definitely, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rajkumar Rao. I re­ally admire them be­cause it really doesn't feel like they are acting. You look at them and feel like it's a real person speaking. They say less is more and I see that in them. They just do the right amount, which doesn't make it look like acting and that’s something I am really aspiring to do.

What do you enjoy as an audience?

I watch a lot of things and saw many movies and TV shows during lockdown, including Rick And Morty, BoJack Horse­man, Special OPS, Family Man, Breathe 2 and West World season three. Before I became an actor, I didn't understand what was going on behind the scenes. Now that I have become an actor and seen shooting, I understand a lot more about all aspects. I try not to get into those details while watching something.

What inspires you?

The one thought that always puts me back on track is that I must be better than what I was yesterday. The fact that I can see and imagine I can be something better motivates me to work harder and ensure it happens.