He was aware that playing Armaan Oberoi, a television producer in Mose Chhal Kiye Jaaye, may not make him a fan favourite. But Vijayendra Kumeria was pleasantly surprised to see how the audience lapped up his manipulative character. “It was a challenge to get the audience to like even the wrong things I was doing. [I consider it a] success as an actor.” The daily soap revolves around a young, passionate writer Soumya who dreams to be independent and free her family from debt. Convinced that she will make a perfect life partner, Armaan — her boss — tries to mould her as per his idea of a perfect housewife. He almost succeeds, until the curtains of his deception fall.

When the show was offered, Kumeria was not convinced about coming on board at first. A second sitting and a detailed narration from the producer gave the actor more clarity. He says, “Shashi [Mittal] ma’am explained the graph of my character. There was a lot to do as an actor in this.” But that’s not all. Kumeria adds that the show also has a social message, which convinced him to finally come on board. “Shows should be issue-based, of course, [with a bit of] entertainment. [It reflects on] how women should be treated and be empowered. A lot of people still believe that men and women are not equals, and that post marriage, a woman’s sole responsibility is towards her home,” he explains. Kumeria hopes that the men watching his show change their patriarchal ways, and “women understand when they are being manipulated”.