Arjun Aneja, who has done shows like Balika Vadhu, Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi, Ishq Mein Marjawan on TV, is winning accolades for his big screen role as Tapan in Kartik Aaryan-Kiara Advani film Satyaprem Ki Katha.

While he plays the role of a baddie, Arjun spoke to ETimes TV in the Tellyblazer segment about how he feels to be a part of the big league, leaving his 9-5 job as an accountant specialist and more.On bagging Kartik Aaryan-Kiara Advani starrer Satyaprem Ki Katha“It feels amazing to be a part of such a big film, which has already crossed Rs 100 crores.It’s a big association for me with Sajid Nadiadwala and such a hit jodi in the industry.

It’s a pleasure for me to be a part of this film.

I got a call from the casting team.

I had auditioned for Ek Villain 2, for an important part.

But that didn’t work out.

My name was there in the data of the casting team.

I got a call from the team asking if I would be up to play Kiara’s boyfriend in the film.

I was like there’s no question to ask.

I was sent a brief of my character.

So that’s how the role of Tapan happened to me.Playing a baddie in a big-league film, where there any hesitations to get stereotyped?It slightly did come to my mind.

But now I feel the system has changed a bit.

My plus point is, when I perform negative, it’s a great thing but otherwise I come across as a very positive person.

So to cast me in a heroic role would also be very easy for the casting directors.

I am glad I got to play the negative part, which is more challenging for me.

If I am shown in a positive role, that will also be very easy.How has life been for you most this recognition from the film?It feels amazing to be a part of such a big association.

I have been receiving a lot of messages and calls, even from my school friends and college friends.

They’ll be calling me ‘Tapan’ and I am not Arjun anymore for them.

It’s a great feeling altogether.

They all want to know what’s next for me.

There’s already a feature film, which I have shot.

I have been getting a lot of work calls, which definitely will convert into good projects.Do you feel with this film, you have entered the big league?I was a part of Kuch Rang Pyaar Aise Bhi, it’s been more than 4 years, and people still recognise me from the show.

Recently, someone recognised me from film and the other person recognised me from the show.

Television is more reachable with people and films also have their own set of audience.

I have fans from both mediums and I am happy about that.How did acting happen to you?It will take me 10 years back.

I graduated from Delhi University.

Right after graduation, I was working as an Accountant Specialist.

I had a 9-5 job.

But I wasn’t very happy about it.

I grew so tall and I wouldn’t even fit in my work desk.

I didn’t want to sit for so many hours on desk.

I joined a modelling agency.

It happened for 8-10 months.

Even that was becoming very static.

I wanted to deliver and express more than walking on the ramp.

Then I did a crash course in acting for about 5-6 months and I shifted to Mumbai.Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi’s Arjun Aneja: I was asked to share my Instagram link…Initial days in MumbaiOne of the incidents that has stayed with me was one of the flats that I took in Mumbai, was on the first floor.

I remember the first monsoon came and it came as a surprise for me.

It was raining massively, I got down and was in knee-deep water.

The guard said it happens every year and I was experiencing it for the first time.

That time, it wasn’t like you take a call to shift to another place.

My friend and I would have to go for audition everyday and we had to wear boots.

We took the boots in hand, walk in that water, we would wash up and then go for auditions.

Those were just one of those moments in Mumbai.

God has been kind.

The discipline, the effort that I put in has paid off.When did you get your first project after coming to Mumbai?I got an ad film with Anil Kapoor but there’s a story behind it.

I got the ad after one and half year of stay in Mumbai.

I came to Mumbai for the first time from home.

And in a place like Mumbai, taking up a flat and stay, it brings a lot of distraction.

Being in the entertainment industry, it becomes a bit of challenging to be focused.

I was 24-25 back then, and I would say this that ek-der saal maine apna pura kharab kiya hai.

I used to meet a lot of friends, I would play cricket, I would party, chill.

Jis motive se main Mumbai aaya tha, maine totally out of focus tha.

One day I realised that I wasn’t here in Mumbai for this.

I am very thankful that this ad happened.

I was passing by a studio and someone asked me if I would like to test for the ad.

When I reached for the ad shoot, I saw Anil Kapoor and the aura that he brought to the set… can’t be explained.

The myth of you need to know somebody, crashed.

The only thing is, you need to go for auditions and get it.

But be disciplined and keep auditioning.

This changed the entire course of my acting career.

I didn’t leave any studio.So during this distraction, how did you sustain in Mumbai financially?I am extremely lucky that my parents were very supportive.

I feel extremely blessed.

For other people, I have seen it is a challenge.

One fight for them is to reach Mumbai and then find a foothold is the second challenge.

So for me, they supported me financially in the initial years.

Then I became responsible and never looked back for their support.How did you bag your first TV show?The first TV show was Balika Vadhu.

It was a cameo for a month or two.

It was like a push to start.

In between, I would also audition for ads and I got to play Amitabh Bachchan’s son in a jewellery ad.

I worked with Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor.

It gave me the exposure to work with these big guys in the industry.

It made me feel no less.

It gave me a lot of courage.

Then I did Neerja.

It was a bang on boost.

I played Sonam Kapoor’s brother and Shabana Azmi’s son.

We did workshops to blend in as a family.

There was no looking back after this.

I have been working on all platforms.How has life changed for you?When I look back, I feel very proud of myself.

It is very important to boost yourself.

I have been through highs and lows and I feel extremely grateful.

During Covid-19, I had to go back home, give away the flat.

I wrote two films, which I will be directing soon.

I got into yoga.

I see a drastic change in me from how I was back then.

I am a mature Arjun today.

Those incidents were supposed to happen to make me who I am today.

I won’t go back to making those mistakes again.Did you face ‘how many followers you have on social media?’Ofcourse, I have.

In the past few times, when I would be asked to share my details for a certain character, we are also asked to share our Instagram link.

Now the game has gone to the number of followers you have.

I was getting this repeatedly.

I had a discussion with a couple of actor friends and they lost out on projects for less number of followers.

WatchKuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi’s Arjun Aneja: I lost focus for one and half year when I came to Mumbai