The Indian television industry has created many icons and idols. Specially in case of mythological shows. In the late 1980s, people idolised Arun Govil for his portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramayana. Then came Nitish Bhardwaj who played Krishna in Mahabharata. And the latest contender is undoubtedly Kashmiri lad Mohit Raina, who became famous as Shiva in Devon Ke Dev – Mahadev.
Now Mohit is back in the limelight as Samrat Ashoka in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat on Colors. When he was chosen to play the character, it didn’t come as a surprise because after playing the powerful Shiva, Mohit needed a powerful and multi-dimensional character to keep the momentum going. And, as expected, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat has become one of the most talked about TV shows. Produced by Contiloe, the show managed to create a strong impact right from the beginning.
So what prompted him to take up the project? The actor explains, “My family has been a big fan of the show. I have always wanted to play this character. Somewhere inside, I was waiting for the age leap so that I could audition and fill in the gap. The serial is a historical masterpiece, and I am proud to be a part of the show. Ashoka’s character has different shades, which will help me create my own version of this historic figure,” he adds, hoping that this role will be a huge milestone in his career.
Though Mohit took some time to take on a new project after Mahadev, he is completely convinced about his choice. “A character like this gives me immense scope. The adrenaline rush I get, while galloping on a horse with a sword in my hand, is something which I can’t experience while acting as a daily soap character. I feel with history and mythology, you have a lot of scope to perform.”
Talking about his larger-than-life character of Shiva, which gave him instant fame, Mohit is confident that he can shed that image and people will start accepting him as King Ashoka. “I don’t think it is difficult to grow into a new character. It will take some time, but character will overtake the actor one day.”
Interestingly, actor Siddharth Nigam, who played the younger version of Ashoka, was immensely popular, and starred in 400 episodes of the show. Mohit feels Siddharth has done a great job and has left behind a strong impression on the audience. Talking about the pressure that he has to face to keep up the TRP ratings, Mohit says, “There is obviously a lot of pressure. Siddharth has set such high standards. People will obviously want to see more of him, but I will try my best to convince them with my craft.”
Mohit is one of the few actors who are not active on social media. When asked why, he says, “I am quite boring. That’s why I enjoy playing larger-than-life characters. Which is why I also keep away from reality TV shows. Although I would like to do Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa someday because I am a good dancer.”
Many television actors have ventured successfully into films. Has he ever considered the big screen? “Television actors are seen on TV everyday and have a huge fan following. They are known for the characters they play. But in films, it’s the other way around. When your background is television, you don’t get a chance to play larger-than-life characters like Shiva or Ashoka on the big screen. So I don’t want to let go of such big opportunities on television to do small roles in films. I am happy and content where I am.”