Grateful to have played the lead: Akshay Dev Bindra on TV show Kumkum Bhagya going off air

With Kumkum Bhagya going off air after more than an 11-year run, Akshay Dev Bindra, who played the male lead once the show took a generational leap, has mixed emotions. For Akshay, who has done web shows like Rakshak-India's Braves and Four More Shots Please!, it was his TV debut. He says, “I feel it should have continued for another 11 years, but unfortunately, it’s not. But I’m happy that I got to be a part of it. I am grateful to have played the lead in such a big show, which was also one of the longest running shows. I learned a lot about how TV works.”

‘Since I came from the web space, it was difficult’
Recalling his initial days at the shoot, he shares, “Our director, Neeraj Baliyan, is very strict. Since I was new to TV, I was very nervous. We got our script only half an hour before the shoot and had to mug up our dialogues, which was challenging. Also, there’s a lot of pressure. By the second or third day, I was wondering if I had made the right decision. Since I came from the web space, it was difficult for me. After a week, I gradually started enjoying it. I realised that he (the director) is also under pressure as he has to deliver 25 minutes of footage every day.” He adds, “If actors don’t learn their lines quickly, serials can’t have daily telecasts. I understood that one learns under pressure and got used to it. Soon, I started enjoying it and work became fun. I started performing well and was appreciated by the director.”

‘Things are very uncertain in the TV industry now’
Akshay, who has done several web series, says, “I am glad to have done both, and they are two different worlds. But working on the web is way more satisfying than TV. I got to play several meaty characters in web shows with good content. Things are very uncertain in the TV industry now. After running for years, shows go off air untimely. But TV ensures you have a house, it gives you money. That’s the best part about the TV industry. It’s like a trap; you get a lot of money and want to keep doing that.” The actor has no plans to take a break. He says, “I’ve started auditioning for web shows and TV projects. I have also auditioned for a 70mm project which you’ll see next year. I cannot reveal much about it now.”

‘An actor should read, travel & learn new skills’
An artist at heart, Akshay loves to read and travel. He feels, “For an actor, it’s important to read, travel, and learn new skills to hone his craft. I wake up at 5am, meditate and then go to the gym. I also attend dance classes at home. I sing and play the guitar too. I love to do pottery and if time permits, I cook. I keep myself busy and always look for new learnings and experiences. I like to go on solo trips and meet new people. This keeps me grounded, helps me focus, and brings some kind of discipline.”