Manoj Chandila: What Kind of Villain Can’t Anger Audience?
Manoj Chandila, playing troubled Lalit in Oh Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera, says negative reactions to his character are compliments, as he explores complex psychology and promises heavy drama ahead.
Mumbai: Actor Manoj Chandila, known for portraying the complex and troubled character Lalit in the ongoing show Oh Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera, produced by Prateek Sharma and Parth Shah under Studio LSD, has opened up about the challenges and rewards of playing a layered antagonist. Chandila believes a villain’s success lies in evoking strong emotions, particularly anger, from the audience.
In the current storyline, Lalit is growing increasingly frustrated as Aparajita begins to confront him directly. Chandila explained the character’s mindset: “Lalit right now is furious and frustrated since Aparajita has finally started confronting him head-on. He’s desperately trying to get her to Bhopal but fails every time, and because he’s a troubled child, he can’t tell right from wrong and takes everything personally, which makes his problem even worse.”
The actor views this role as a significant opportunity for professional growth. “I as an actor get to explore and experiment with the psychology of a person like Lalit, which ultimately adds to my professional skills and repertoire. Every day is a chance for me to renew yesterday; that excites me the most. I time to time add notes and references to my portrayal of Lalit,” he shared.
Chandila highlighted what makes the show stand out for viewers. “The show stands out because of the plot and contrast of two families. The show tells women’s tales in deep, abusive marriages in a way that touches the pulse of viewers where it must be touched. Also, we’ve got a dedicated set of actors and directors. Shabbir and Sriti are one beautiful combo we can’t neglect. So yes, we’ve got quite enough to be hooked onto as a half-hour entertainer,” he said.
Despite the pressures of television ratings, Chandila remains committed to delivering his best performance. He drew inspiration from an iconic scene in the film Titanic. “The violinists in Titanic didn’t give up until the last minute even after knowing the ship was going to sink and they were going to die. The scene tells you to do what ought to be done even in adverse events. Yes, it’s difficult, I agree, but you cannot stop giving your best irrespective of the numbers. It would be cheating for me if I acted otherwise,” he reflected.
Praising the show’s popular on-screen pairing, Chandila said, “C’mon, they make a great pair; secondly, they bring a lot on screen as characters too. They’re happy faces, and happiness is exactly what the audience gets when they watch them together, I guess.”
The actor has been receiving strong reactions online to his portrayal of Lalit. Far from being disheartened, he sees the criticism as validation of his work. “I’m getting abused online for playing Lalit, but that’s a compliment for the actor in me. This feedback gives me confidence to experiment more in a newer way, so yeah! Woh villain hee kis baat ka jo audience ko gussa na dila sake,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Chandila expressed optimism about the future of television as a medium. “I feel TV has a loyal audience and will remain so in the coming times. Like OTT, TV is adapting too,” he noted.
He also elaborated on his acting process, emphasising consistency in the character’s core emotions. “I don’t let the baseline emotion of the character slip away unless the character’s personality changes completely, and then I adapt, challenging but doable.”
As the show progresses, audiences can expect intense developments. “Oh! There’s lot of heavy duty drama coming up. I’ll only request the viewers to keep sticking to our show the way they’ve been. We promise not to disappoint,” Manoj Chandila assured.
Through his nuanced performance as Lalit, Chandila continues to demonstrate the importance of complex characters in Indian television. His dedication to exploring the psychology of a troubled antagonist not only enriches the narrative but also adds depth to the ongoing conversation around abusive relationships and family dynamics portrayed on screen. As viewers remain hooked to the central conflict between the two families, Chandila’s commitment to his craft promises to keep the drama compelling in the episodes to come.
