Arya Mahajan: Playing Mangesh On Television Gave Me An Opportunity To Understand Certain Conflicts About Indian Households (Actor & Musician, 107k)

Arya Mahajan Interview 

If you are made for something it will find you, but don't do something just because everyone is doing it

Q. You’re an actor, a musician, and a digital creator. When someone asks “What do you really do?”How do you usually answer?

I say im an artist. A person who loves to act but lives on music,I’ve always been a multitalented person and its been such a way where whatever ive tried to do i get good at it really quickly and that ability to adapt and learn has always been the real god gift i have.

Q. You’ve grown up in the public eye through television, yet you’re building a very personal identity online. How do you balance being seen with being authentic?

I believe that as an artist my job is not just to portray a character but to always be true to who i am and not leave my true personality behind and being an actor can lead to a certain public image. I want my audience and to know me how i am and learn abt me beyond the characters i play. Balancing both of them is undoubtedly a tedious task to do on a regular basis but i try my best to give as much time on and off screen equally.

Q. Playing Mangesh in Wagle Ki Duniya made you a familiar face in Indian households. What did that role teach you about everyday middle-class India?

Playing Mangesh not only brought out a different side of me but also gave me an opportunity to understand certain conflicts about Indian households, though I've been brought up in an upper middle class family, but middle class can never really leave as its in the blood of every Indian.

Q. You often describe yourself as self-made. What does that phrase truly mean to you beyond social media captions?

When I say self-made I want everyone to know that whatever I have achieved is purely with my own hardwork and perseverance and there was no one to help in this journey as im an outsider with no family background. I say it with pride and want to prove to the world that hardwork and talent together can beat anything.

Q. Music seems to be more than a skill for you; it feels emotional. When did music become a necessity rather than a hobby?

I've been really inclined towards music since childhood as I started playing drums and learning dance when I was 4 yrs old. My family and the environment I've grown up also played a very strong role in it as the love for music was always in the blood, however to me music is like an escape where I can express myself and be vulnerable as I’ve always been an introvert.

Q. Acting requires discipline, while music allows vulnerability. Which of the two scares you more and why?

I believe acting and music both require vulnerability and discipline as without vulnerability art cant be evoked and without discipline nothing will last for a long time.

Q. You represent a generation that doesn’t want to be boxed into one profession. Do you think the industry is finally ready for multi-hyphenate artists?

I don't think the industry is ready yet but how the future is getting shaped and with rise in competition it is becoming a necessity. It is not easy but that is what the challenge is and the people who pass the challenge will sustain in the future.

Q. You’ve been part of a long-running TV show. What’s harder: sustaining relevance on television or on social media?

Both are equally difficult but television would win the debate as the work and opportunities are not always available on the other hand social media is something which can be accessed by anyone who has a device with running internet.

Q. Many young artists look up to you. What’s one uncomfortable truth about this industry that aspiring actors or musicians should know early on?

That more than talent and hardwork,patience is the real key to success. If you are made for something it will find you, but don't do something just because everyone is doing it. Sometimes accepting the fact that you are not made for something can be the best thing. The fact that luck might get you sudden fame but the ones who sustain are the ones who are really the talented ones.

Q. Physical transformation, discipline, and fitness show up frequently in your content. Howmuch of success today is talent and how much is stamina?

For me its all talent. As I’ve always been fit but I try to maintain that physique and its easier for me to be that way due to my lifestyle choices which have been very disciplined from my childhood and the credit goes to my parents as they have always pushed me towards fitness and moving my body rather than sitting at home

Q. Has there been a moment in your journey when you seriously doubted yourself? What pulled you out of it?

There are times when nothing works out and there is a sudden slump,everything become stagnant and theres no visible growth, but I am grateful to my mother as she counseled me time to time and didn’t let me doubt myself in addition to that I’ve always had never giving up attitude towards everything in my life which helps me counter many obstacles.

Q. Looking ahead, what kind of artist do you not want to become, no matter how successful you get?

Doing something just for money or something which gives a wrong message to the society. I’ve always believed in doing things which make me happy. My morals are very solid and in no circumstances I will compromise on them.

Q. If your life right now had a background soundtrack, which genre would it be and why?

I guess it would be from hip hop or rock. As both the genres try to bring the real sides of the world and try to show the inner conflicts we have in our heads. I am trying to conquer everything which comes my way and thats what rock sounds bring out of us.

Bio:

Arya Mahajan is a young talented actor on television. He is been working in the industry since childhood. A Delhi-based boy has come to Mumbai to live his passion. He has got huge support from family. Arya has completed his elementary schools from Delhi and moved to Mumbai and he is studying furthermore.He also cleared his IIT in the first attempt with a AIR 1183 and his BITSAT but he dropped his secured seat in IIT ROORKEE and BITS PILANI to continue his passion of acting for which he required to stay in mumbai . He is an actor and a great musician. He plays drums and sings as well. Arya is been trained in dance and drumming for 10 years. 

As an actor he started his career from advertisements and television shows including- Anupama, Tara from Satara, Akbar, CID, Savdhan India, Apani to Pathshala, Gali Gali Sim Sim.Web series-the trial on hotsar .Advertisements -Arun icecreams, Mentos, HDFC, Lido, 24 Mantra, Khelo India Khelo, Diamond Rings, Ashok Leyland, AAFT. Arya is the first actor to portrayed Lord Saibaba's younger role ever. He has played younger Sai baba in Anant Koti Brahmand Nayak Shirdi Sai Baba which is on DD Kisan and Zee5. Arya has got tremendous response from an audience for this role. He recent times he is recognised for his role in the Rohit Shetty fim Cirkus in which he played young Ranveer's character and he is currently working in the famous family tv show Wagle Ki Duniya for which he is very popular, he is also working in web projects simultaneously. He is also known for his presence on social media in recent times and is growing consistently with great audience support.

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Interviewed by: Nidhi