Jay Bhanushali: No regrets about not doing films after 2015

Between 2005 and 2012 Jay Bhanushali was a permanent fixture on popular daily shows including Kayamath Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil Geet mdash Hui Sabse Parayi and Kairi mdash Rishta Khatta Meetha before turning towards anchoring completely Now the actor is ready to end his 11year break from fiction shows with Hum Rahein Na Rahein Hum in which he plays Shivendra Barot the eldest prince of Ranakgadh As he returns to acting in television shows Bhanushali reflects on his career his stab at Bollywood and how his kids are his biggest motivationEdited excerpts from the interviewWhat made you return to fiction after 11 yearsWhen I saw the Turkish show Istanbullu Gelin I told Mahhi Vij wife that this is what I was looking for and I have waited for a long time to do such a show In the second week of the Turkish show I received a call from the producers of HRNRH asking me to be part of the show I felt the same excitement that I did when I had received my first project call from a producerHow did Hum Rahein Na Rahein Hum push you as an actorI am playing a serious role in the show I wanted to do something in contrast to what I do on reality TV The audience has seen my comic timing on reality shows So this time I was looking for something serious because I want to be known for my versatility in actingIn a career spanning 18 years how have you grown as an actor during the journeyThe best way of giving your best in acting is having the hunger of performing Since I had an 11year gap I was eagerly waiting for a suitable project In between I was offered several fiction shows but I felt that I wouldnrsquot be utilised fully on them Because I was hungry I strived hard to improve myselfDo you think your Bollywood career didnrsquot take off because people were prejudiced against your TV backgroundI donrsquot think so Between 2014 and now if I wanted to I could have featured in 40 films But if I get an inclination that something is not going to work I canrsquot do it even if the producers are offering me big money I want to be known as an actor who delivers quality projects I donrsquot want to do a movie for the sake of doing a Bollywood film I am very secure in whatever I am doing I get my happiness through anchoring I have no regrets that I havenrsquot done films after 2015 because it was my choiceHave you ever felt insecure as an actorMaybe I did at the start since I hadnrsquot carved a niche for myself But once I realised that I have shown my talent in fiction and nonfiction I knew nothing could stop me if I worked hard Healthy competition is always good During my struggling days I had created a chain of 50 people wherein I would forward news of an audition call event when we didnrsquot have Whatsapp That way we would never miss an audition call We believed that whoever was destined to get the role would get it eventually Now I am secure in whatever I am doingDo you pick up roles keeping in mind that your children will see it some dayI want to make my children proud of whatever I am doing There is a reason why I have travelled all the way to Gujarat to shoot this show My kids are my motivation I am trying to build a good life for them and want to work hard every day for themAlso ReadRhea Chakraborty announces shes back as gang leader on MTV Roadies Did you think Id be scaredHave you considered branching out in other areas of filmmakingYou will see me producing content for television or OTT platforms soon I have been focusing on that for a long time When the time is right everything will fall in place