Once this old lady saw me in airport and just kept smiling at me, and after much hesitation, she came and asked me, 'Are you Ram? Can I touch your hair? Is it real?' and I happily obliged.
— Ashish Sharma
I don't know why people feel popular actors avoid doing mytho shows. Aren't they also doing good? Sometimes such shows give you more fame.
Working on television is much more stressful than working for a movie. The pace of work is relaxed while shooting a movie.
I am from Jaipur where 'Ramlila' is a common theatre act. Though I was a thin, lanky fellow, I was always offered the role of Hanuman.
A film shoot usually wraps up in a couple of months. But television shoots involve longer hours of work.
When I came into television, the serials were all women-centric, while the men had to stand around like furniture. I wasn't willing to be a prop in serials. To my good fortune, I got serials where I was a central character.
I am thankful that 'Jhalak' made me a professional dancer now from just a 'barat' dancer.
When I get into the shoes of any character, I work on getting the perfect look.
If two actors can communicate well during a scene, it works and makes for good chemistry.
We all have this idea of Ram being a patient person besides being a great archer, a horse-rider, and above all, a compassionate king. There is more to him than that.
I don't want to do roles in films which I have already done on TV. What is the point of jumping to films and doing the same thing?
My family is really happy that I'm playing Ram.
I have always been a huge fan of Shakespeare.
Men in Rajasthan pride themselves on their moustaches. It is a sign of their masculinity.
I am the kind who is always on time while shooting.
I like the fact that the audience does notice the hard work that I put in to maintain my physique, and there is nothing better than having your hard work appreciated!
To play a Punjabi guy in 'Rab se Sohna Isshq,' I had to put on muscle.
I have grown up on literature and mythological stories. They have fascinated me since childhood, and I believe every character that I portray on screen is an extension of my personality to some degree. That is why whatever role I play seems in my comfort zone.
Not just me, in fact, my entire family is a devout follower of Lord Hanuman. It's an annual affair where we all celebrate Hanuman Jayanti with a big puja at home, and all the relatives join us in the puja.
Direction is something that interests me. Even while shooting, I always have conversations with the director to get a better understanding of shooting technicalities.
I can't stand the slow pace of Jaipur anymore. I like staying in Mumbai, as everyone is on the move.
A lot of people thought that it was a foolish step to move to television. But for me, it is all about the creative satisfaction I get.
Of course I want to do films. But to me, television is equally important. It is where I got recognition.
'Rangrasiya' was a very special show for me. It played a very important part in shaping up my career. I feel it was a premature end to the show. My character Rudra was very close to my heart.
When I came to Mumbai, I only wanted to be an actor, and my approach hasn't digressed over the years. I never really hoped to be in the limelight or wanted to be a star.
I can feel this pressure of living up to the expectations of people. I hope I can fulfill it.
I always had this dream to act: so much so, even as a child, I used to take part in Ram Leelas.
TV does not offer much for the male lead actors, but I was lucky to act in shows like 'Chandragupta Maurya,' 'Rab Se Sohna Isshq,' 'Gunahon Ka Devta,' and 'Rangrasiya.'
Sita and Ram were two strong individuals, and their love for each other is an example for lovers across the globe.
I have very few friends and don't talk much.
I love watching 'Game of Thrones,' 'Rome,' and 'Spartacus' from the period dramas genre.
I think I have been blessed to play a variety of roles. I have experimented and done different things.
If loving your job qualifies you as a workaholic, then yes, I am one for sure!
'Siya Ke Ram' is the story of Sita and Ram as two equally strong individuals, and I feel 'Ramayan' is as much as Sita's journey as it is Ram's.
Shows with good content are important, and not the genre.
I feel good when I come to Ahmedabad.
I was always passionate about acting.
In Jaipur, I did almost everything from regional theatre to Shakespeare's plays. But when I shifted to Mumbai, I joined Anupam Kher's academy, Actor Prepares,to hone my acting skills.
'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' has helped me shed my inhibitions. Dancing in front of an audience was not easy for me. But I managed it and got progressively comfortable with the audience as the weeks progressed.
This journey from non-dancer to dancer has given me a lot of self-confidence and inner strength. I feel like a different person.
I know April, May and June are a few unbearable months, and working out in a gym and sweating in such dirty hot, sticky, humid weather puts me off. The best way is to swim. I feel so fresh and rejuvenated after swimming, and I believe it's one of the best mode to fitness during summers.
There'll always be a difference between a star and an actor. I've nothing against stars. They've earned it and deserve it. I'm happy being just an actor.
'Siya Ke Ram' will leave us with hardly any scope to think of other projects. And I wouldn't want to work on something and not be whole-hearted in it, either.
I am inspired by the kind of films Raj Kumar Gupta and Imtiaz Ali make.
I have been a good theatre artiste since my school and college days, but when I participated in 'Cine Stars Ki Khoj,' I realised that I could touch people's hearts when I performed.
All the characters in 'Rang Rasiya' are inspired from the Shakespearean drama 'Othello.' This is exactly what interested me to take up this role.
Every role I have played has had a bit of me in them.
I love period dramas - be it romance or philosophy.
I was on the lookout for something different, as I was exhausted with the fiction space. When I was asked to host 'Tujhse Naaraz Nahin Zindagi,' it was not as an actor but as an individual, and on being explained the concept, I found it interesting and accepted it since it was about real people and real life.
Those who aren't actors needn't juggle from lean to bulky and back. It's great to maintain a stable body type. Be consistent in your approach towards fitness.
