Exclusive: Sanjivani 2 premieres tonight. Namit Khanna opens up on his character, working with Surbhi Chandna
Namit Khanna will be seen as Dr Siddhant in medical drama Sanjivani. The show premieres tonight on Star Plus.
Television actor Namit Khanna will be seen as Dr Siddhant Mathur in medical drama Sanjivani. The show is the reboot version of the show that originally aired 2002 to 2005. Namit Khanna plays a Robin Hood doctor who believes in treating all his patients without any discrimination of rich and poor. Namit who was last seen romancing Palak Jain in Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai has been cast opposite Surbhi Chandna of Ishqbaaz fame.
In an exclusive chat with India Today Online, Namit Khanna opened up on his role and working with Surbhi Chandna.
Excerpts:
Tell us about your character.
Dr Siddhant Mathur is a sorted kind of Robin Hood-ish character. He comes from a lower-middle-class family and has stayed at chawls in Mumbai. His back story is that he comes from a poor family, his mother was not working, doesn't have a father and his maternal uncle has Down's syndrome. Since a very young age, he has been taking care of his family like he had to go to different hospitals to get his uncle treatment and he was refused. So there is this angst within him, which developed at a young age that I have to get treatment for the people who can't afford it because he has seen it firsthand. That's when he decides to become a good doctor and help the poor. The main motive is to provide treatment to everybody without any discrimination. At the same time, he feels that it's okay to take from the rich and help to the poor. He uses different ways and methods so jugaad is one the things he does. He will go out of his way to help the needy.
How was your experience of shooting with the whole cast?
It's been quite a pleasurable experience and I had the good fortune to work with such senior actors. It's a lot of fun because every day has been a beautiful working experience. There is so much to do with so many different characters. Different characters are bringing different energies in the scene. When we are doing scenes with actors like Mohnish Behl you really go into a different zone because you get to learn so much from them.
On working with Surbhi Chandna: It was fun working with Surbhi (Chandna). She brings a different energy that is different from other actors and that helps us during the scene because we as people are very different in our personalities.
Have you watched the original Sanjivani?
No, I haven't. I think I was in school at that time but I do remember the name and the tune. After signing the show I have watched a couple of episode but haven't watched the entire series.
Did you watch any medical drama to prepare for your role?
I watched Grey's Anatomy's four or five seasons. It gave the visual understanding of the insides of the hospital. Sanjivani and Grey's are different shows. I was looking for body language while doing the surgery. I was not for looking something to copy but it took me to their world. Apart from Grey's I also watched The Residents. There were a few things that were good to see, which will remain in my subconscious mind to implement at some time.
How similar or different you are from Sanjivani's Siddhant?
The common thing between Siddhant and I is the attitude towards life; his approach about having that confidence to be able to deal with anything and finding a way and being clear of what you want. Siddhant is a guy who will joke and want to have fun. Not very serious but when he is on job he means business and knows his job really well. And that's the reason he has earned the respect from everybody except for Rohit (Roy) sir's character. (chuckles)
Surbhi Chandna's fans loved watching her with Nakuul Mehta and now they are looking forward to seeing your chemistry with the actress. What do you have to say?
What I know is that I am very different individual. I know Nakuul really well. He is my go to man actually. You can't compare apples to oranges. When two people are together they will create some energy and other two people will create a different energy. So, it will be very wrong to judge. Our job is to make it work for the show and for the characters and I am sure it will only grow with time. For any relationship, you start from scratch and you build it. Even in the story, we will grow in the relationship and that gets better with time.
- Favourite actor: Leonardo Di Caprio
- Fvourite actress: Priyanka Chopra
- Dream holiday destination: Iceland
- If not an actor: Travel photographer
- If invisible for a day: I would go to a place I am not supposed to be
- A song on loop: Hold Me
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