‘It helped me recapture the fearless Mohit again’

Mohit Malik

Every character Mohit Malik has ever essayed on screen has left a mark in the audience's mind. Be it the menacing Samrat Singh Rathore in Doli Armaano Ki or the affable music lover Sikandar Singh Gill in Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala, the actor has always sunk his teeth into the character. After almost 16 years in the television industry as the leading man, Malik has now signed up for his first digital outing, Cyber Vaar - Har Screen Crime Scene.

Set in Mumbai, the Voot series captures the ever-rising threat of cyber crimes, seen through the lens of a cyber security team called Trace. The series follows crime cell DCP Aakash Malik and tech expert Ananya Saini (played by Sanaya Irani) on their mission to snuff out cyber crime in the city. While the series is a tech thriller, Malik is quick to admit that he is not tech-savvy. "I am bad with tech. But the moment I heard the story, I wanted to be a part of it. Besides playing a cop for the first time, it is the character's traits, his issues, and his personality that drew me to the role," says Malik, adding that playing the role reminded him of his college days. "Aakash is somebody I was in school or college - fearless and a go-getter. My personality now has changed a lot. It was nice to go back there and play Aakash. It helped me recapture that fearless Mohit again."

Careful of not repeating himself on screen, Malik expresses gratitude that makers have never "typecast" him. "I try to choose characters where I don't repeat myself. Even if it happens to be similar in some way, I try and play it differently. I have always made it a point to create a range for myself as an actor."

While shooting for Cyber Vaar, set to stream on June 10, is yet to wrap up, Malik has taken off to South Africa for two months for Khatron Ke Khiladi season 12. Though he is physically fit, Malik claims his mental strength will be tested on the show. "KKK is a positive show and I am in a confident space. I have been preparing for the last three months while working on Cyber Vaar, but I will know whether I am mentally strong or not only when I face the challenge. I can't fear the things I have not faced, so time will tell," says the actor, who was approached for the show for the third time.