Whenever Lord Shiva is mentioned in the world of TV, the first face that emerges is that of actor Tarun Khanna. In a special conversation with Local 18, Tarun Khanna openly shared his acting journey, preparation for the character of Shiva and the lessons learned from it.
Tarun Khanna says that when he sees himself in Shiva’s getup, the first thing that comes to his mind is that he is looking fit and perfect. According to him, if God exists, then he looks perfect. The audience also wants to see him in the same form, so it is my responsibility to keep the body in a particular shape for this character. He tells that when he stands in front of the mirror in the dark behind the stage and sees only his reflection, many times he sees the image of God in himself. It is important for an actor to feel that emotion before going on stage, so that the same emotion can reach the audience.
Challenge of fitness and being a foodie
Tarun Khanna calls himself a foodie. He likes sweets and fried food, but he keeps it under control. If I eat something wrong one day, I follow a strict diet for the next 2-3 days. He considers regular workouts and balanced eating as the mantra to stay fit.
From rejection to role
Recalling the struggle of his career, the actor said that there was a time when a casting director told him that his face was very tough and he could not look like Bholenath. This definitely hurt him, but with time the same person came to offer him the role of Shiva on a big channel.
Tarun says, perhaps with age the face softened and luck also supported him.
Strict preparation from Tandav to dialogue
It is not easy to play the character of Lord Shiva. According to Tarun, the most difficult thing was to capture that special communication style and tone in which God’s dignity and compassion were reflected. For Tandav, she worked with many renowned choreographers, including the famous duo Rekha Chinni Prakash and Diksha Nagpal. He practices three to four days a week to maintain his energy and spirit on stage.
Learned tolerance from Shiva
Tarun believes that this character has also changed him personally. Shiva drank poison for the world. I cannot drink poison, but now I have gained the ability to tolerate and understand people’s words. He says that now he tries to understand the other person’s point of view before reacting to anything.
New show, new style
Soon Tarun Khanna will be seen in a new show, which will air on Zee TV and &TV. In this show, he will be seen coming to earth in the form of Shiva and living life among humans. He has also gone to the holy city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh for shooting.
our ram family in one word
After completion of 400 stagings of Hamari Ram, Tarun called it a family. He says that it is not just a show, but an emotional relationship. He believes that 400 is only 5 percent, the real journey is yet to come. Tarun Khanna said that Shiva is not just a character but a spiritual experience which is teaching him balance and tolerance not only on stage but also in life.