Namik Paul: I realised that playing a journalist is easier than being one

For Namik Paul, playing a journalist in Naagin 7 comes with an unexpected sense of familiarity. Long before acting became his calling, he briefly worked in a newsroom. Sharing about his role in the show, he says, “I’m playing Aaravind Suri, he’s a journalist, and he has won Journalist of the Year award four times in a row. He’s a bit of a superstar in his field, and because of that, he holds himself and others to a high standard. He’s a bit sharp, and people don’t match his expectations.” Namik says. Despite his professional edge, Aaravind is emotionally rooted. “He loves his family, and Poorvi, who will eventually be Naagin, comes into his life as an employee. Slowly, the supernatural is entering his life.” What makes the role distinctive, he adds, is its restraint. “So far it’s been a very normal show for me—no VFX, no green screens yet. You see scenes in the office, you see the human side. Aaravind is still the human side of Naagin 7. There’s one scene where there’s a hint, but he misses it.” That realism connects closely to his own experience. “I worked as an intern journalist for about a year in Delhi. The work hours were crazy, and I totally have respect for people who do it, but I realised that this is not for me. If you’re not passionate about it, you can’t do it. I realised that playing a journalist is easier than being one.” The strain was physical as well. “I got really sick twice and ended up in the hospital. That’s when I realised this is not what I’m going to do with my life. Acting was something I was very passionate about, so I quit that job to pursue my passion.”