Veteran television actor Manav Gohil, renowned for his roles in iconic daily soaps like "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii," "Kasautii Zindagii Kay," and "Kkusum," has revealed startling insights about the dramatic transformation of India's television industry since the early 2000s. The 51-year-old actor emphasized that storytellers from that golden era never compromised on content quality, unlike current trends.
The Four-Year Hiatus and Film Industry Struggle
Gohil recalled experiencing a challenging four-year career lull beginning in 2008, when he stepped away from television to pursue films. This transition proved far more difficult than anticipated for the established TV actor. "It was very difficult for TV actors to get through films but I got a big project. I was the lead of a film by director Dharmesh Darshan, it was a very promising film," Gohil revealed during his PTI interview.
The actor made the difficult decision to quit television entirely when filmmakers requested his full commitment. However, in a disappointing turn of events, the promising film project got shelved, leaving Gohil in professional limbo. When he decided to return to television, the industry had undergone drastic changes that shocked the experienced performer.
Television's Transformation: Quality to Quantity
Gohil encountered a starkly different television landscape upon his return. The industry now prioritized cost-cutting over quality, preferring actors who would work for as little as Rs. 10,000. There was diminishing demand for experienced artists or those genuinely passionate about acting craft.
"When I came back, TV wasn't essentially standing with arms wide open, it had moved on because of a lot of influx of new actors," Gohil stated. He contrasted this with his earlier experiences working with Ekta Kapoor, where despite the machinery of daily soap production, content quality remained uncompromised. "We've reshot episodes because Ekta has not liked it, and it was a common affair," he remembered fondly.
The actor observed that television had become dominated by gimmicks rather than genuine acting talent. "They wanted actors who would charge them Rs. 10,000, have one set, have the same drapes and just add drama and the camera acts for them. A lot of gimmicks started on TV, and it took over the craft," Gohil explained with evident disappointment.
Resilience and Career Renaissance
Despite feeling "desperate" for work during this challenging phase, Gohil maintained his professional integrity by refusing roles that offered mere visibility or financial stability without creative satisfaction. This period became a valuable lesson in resilience for the actor.
"For actors, it is important to know that these patches will come and sustaining through them joyfully is the only choice. Unless, you've the option to switch to other stuff, which is also fine," Gohil shared philosophically. "But I thought I was best at acting within my given range of things that I could do."
His patience eventually paid off when Channel V's 'The Buddy Project' marked his successful return, leading to subsequent roles in popular shows including "Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev," "Yam Hain Hum," "Tenali Rama," "Kaamnaa," and his current series "Binddii."
In his latest venture "Binddii," Gohil embraces the negative role of Dayanand Pathak, a don aspiring to become a politician. "I feel encouraged when people do anti-casting. So, when somebody casts me as a negative character, I feel, 'If they are confident, let's see', and then I take it up as a challenge. The challenge is of not making it a cliched character," the actor explained.
Looking ahead, Gohil remains determined to maintain his artistic integrity and professional hunger. "I'm seeking not to lose the volatility of the actor that I am, that fire in my belly, that I can continue like this for 25 more years, at least. So, I hope I've the hunger that you have as an actor to do different things, to create value in everything that I do," he affirmed.
The actor currently enjoys a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple platforms, including the much-anticipated action thriller film "Dhurandhar" starring Ranveer Singh and an upcoming OTT show. "I've been fortunate as I'm getting to explore a lot of things across mediums. I'm working on a film, I've got an OTT show, I've done regional films, and I'm doing TV. It feels there's nothing extraordinary about me as an actor and yet I'm blessed that there are people who want to work with me," Gohil concluded with gratitude.
