Janmashtami Special - Sourabh Raaj Jain On Krishna, Mahabharat & His Life | TRS

A TV career can impact many people's lives.

Very true.

Do you know which character we are going to talk about?

Yes.

I am not doing anything. Because it is all for always. I was in that zone when you are surrendering yourself to the Almighty. Ekta Kapoor's Mahabharata came on NDTV Imagine. And there, they rejected me.

For Krishna's character?

For Krishna's character. By the true makers, maybe. So that is what happened. Now, when you go to Vrindavan, what do you feel? Krishna is everywhere. In fact, I have a poem...

Saurabh Raj Jain... What is Raj?

Raj is my mother's name.

Oh wow!

Did your mother know that Shri Krishna is at home?

That I don't know. But yes, once in Janmashtami, there was a temple near my house. I think I was the first to make Shri Krishna there. My mother decorated it and decorated it. Oh my! Wow!

Those who are watching this episode from a gen-master's perspective, do you have a message for them?

The only thing I have understood is compassion. If there is no compassion, there is nothing. No matter what you do, don't fight with yourself, don't fight with those around you. Stay calm.

Jai Shree Krishna.

Jai Shree Krishna. ♪♪ So, Abraj Jain, welcome to TRS.

Thank you for inviting me here. How are you? I am great.

You said that you have been in Bombay for 20 years.

Yes, I have been here for 20 years. I came in 2004. For the remix show? Yes. Okay. What all has happened in 20 years? What all has happened in 20 years? How do I tell you in detail?

I was in the second year of college when the selection for the remix. I remember Srishti Di, the producer of Rose Audiovisual, Goldie Bell's sister, she auditioned me for the first time. The way she auditioned me, I still think of it as if a script is being written.

Because I went with my friend, who wanted to do acting. And we used to go to college together, used to come from college. Because I went with my friend who wanted to do acting.

And we used to go to college together.

And I went with him. And there Srishti saw me and asked me why don't you give an audition?

I had no idea what audition was and any of that. So I asked them what it was. They said, they gave me a paper with lines, just remember them and say it in front of the camera. So I read the lines and said, okay. In college, I used to apply oil to my hair. Many times. So that day, I had applied oil as well.

So Srishti Di, the hotel where she came to audition, she took me to the washroom of that hotel. And said, first shampoo your hair, then we will dry your hair and then we will audition you. I said, this is also fine, let's do it. And that's how the journey started.

I got a call after two months and when I got the call, I thought I should try. And where I was at that time, it was a big deal to be on TV. It was a big deal at that time. I don't know if it is still there or not, but it was a big deal at that time. And I thought, there is a chance, I should not miss it. Parents were not allowing, but somewhere in my heart I thought that I is a chance, I shouldn't miss it. My parents weren't allowing me. But somewhere in my heart, I thought, I should try it once.

I should go once I get a call. And I guess that was a beginner's luck. And that's how I came to Mumbai.

Hmm.

I feel that a high quality TV career can impact many people's lives. Very true. Because of your characters. You know which character we are going to talk about here. Yes. But I know that you get that

on the spot feeling when you talk about Lord Krishna. Because everywhere you are asked about Lord Krishna. Do you almost feel like it's a blessing? Not almost, I feel it's a blessing. It is definitely a blessing and I think somewhere if I look back I think it was meant to be in spite of many odds. But whenever people say or say anything about it, I feel blissful. I feel totally blessed.

Because I know that if they didn't want it, it wouldn't have happened. And because they wanted it, it happened. So when someone says something to me related to it, I want to direct it there. Because it is not for me. It is all for him. Why has the divine selected you as a person? Sorry for the heavy question.

See, I don't know the answer to this. Why I was chosen. But I do know that when I said in the starting that I was meant to be to play Krishna was because I had been rejected for Krishna's role once.

I had been signed for Krishna's role once but I could not become Krishna in it. Just to give you an example, I was first signed for Krishna's role for Sagar Productions. A show came out, Jai Shri Krishna. When Colors TV was launched, one of the first shows was with Balika Vadhu. It was Jai Shri Krishna also. And I was signed up as Krishna with Sagar.

But the kid didn't grow up in that. So I didn't become Krishna. Then after that, Ekta Kapoor's Mahabharata was released on NDTV Imagine. Yes, I remember. I had gone for an audition for that too. And I was rejected there.

For Krishna character?

Yes, for Krishna character. For whatever reasons, I don't know. I had gone for an audition for Krishna, but I was rejected there.

How do you rewind this? How did you connect with Krishna from the beginning? As an actor, did you want to play this role?

Or the role used to find you? It was both actually. The role also found me. Because whenever I'm talking about these shows, I was called only for Krishna.

Why?

I have no clue. I don't know that. But I was called for those. And when I got rejected, I thought that maybe I don't have. But I was called for those. And when I got rejected, I thought that I might not get it. So I didn't get it. That was it. I was doing different shows at that time.

Whatever I got at that time. And then, this Mahabharat, which was made by Swastik Productions, Siddharth Kumar Tiwari, I was called for his Mahabharat. And I was called for the same casting director's reference who had called me for

Ekta Kapoor's Mahabharat. So he referred me there and that's how I came on board. And then it happened there. And even after being there, the pilot episode was made first. Everyone liked the pilot episode, but for whatever reasons, there was a year's delay in it.

For whatever reasons. So I thought maybe it won't happen now. But after a year, it happened again. So, no, no, sometimes things happen and then they happen again.

And it happens like people love you so much. So that's why I'm saying, I think it was meant to be, but it was meant to be by the true makers, maybe, I would say.

And at the right time so that is what happened. I feel in that phase of your life and even what you're doing now you have done a very special timeless work. For the work you are talking about I always like I said I feel blessed for getting that opportunity. But the one who is seen is not just an actor. There are so many people behind him. I think the writing was brilliant.

Mir Buta sir had written the dialogues. And I can't thank him enough that he gave me such amazing words to perform. My directors, all the three directors inclusive of Siddharth Kumar Tiwari...

...they visualized it in such a great way... ...they executed it in such a great way. I really want to mention the names of our directors.

Please, please.

Mukesh sir, Loku sir and Kamal sir. These three were the main directors. And then of course Siddharth Kumar Tiwari was the person who was responsible for the entire thing that happened. If these people weren't there, then this thing wouldn't have been possible.

So I know people feel a connection. But it's not just me who is the reason for that. You know, it's so many people coming together and forming this amazing, brilliant show, Mahabharat.

I have said the same thing to Shahi bhai. Same thing. What I told you about Shri Krishna, I told him about Arjun. That you really feel that he is Arjun. Both of you, and I feel a lot of people selected on that show were meant to be on that. Predestined.

Or suppose, there was a little destiny.

I think what is meant to be is meant to be. I believe in that. Whatever has to happen, has to happen. That I believe.

When that phase started, how was your life? Outside of work. Who were you as a guy?

I was a regular guy, I think, who was trying to do good work. And I was also studying. Just before that I had completed my graduation, post-graduation. And there were a lot of different shows during that time, like the wait of a year between Mahabharat's pilot and that. I did a show with Ekta Kapoor. I did the introduction, and then did a show after the introduction.

Then Mahadev also happened. And ironically, Mahabharat was to happen before Mahadev. But the delay happened, Mahadev happened before. And the director of that show called me for Mahabharat, Mahadev And I couldn't refuse him because he had shot the pilot of Mahabharat, Nikhil sir And then I ended up playing Lord Vishnu also in his show. So that happened. So yeah, I was just

working With whatever work that I had that time and Just enjoying while working

Did you have any connection with Vishnu or Krishna in your childhood?

Since my childhood towards God towards God, no matter what the name you give him whichever name you give him there is an extreme connection, an extreme attachment. And it's not like I made it after doing the show.

It has been with me since childhood. I think I grew up with that feeling. And I remember when we used to go to Haridwar many times in childhood, and the ashram where we used to stay, Shivling was right next to Gangadwar. And I remember nobody telling me to do anything.

But I would just... And I was a child at that time. I think I must be in my 3rd or 4th standard. And I would just take Ganga water in my Anjuli and offer it there. And nobody would tell me also. It would just come from within.

So yes, that connection has always been there.

Past life connection.

Yeah, maybe. But it's not like I had to work for it. It has just come very natural to me. It has. And since then, offering water to Lord Shiva has beenji's life has been a part of my life. It has always been there and it is still there.

I don't talk about it much because I just feel that it's very personal. It's very personal.

So, after saying this, I feel like, why am I even saying, you know? On some level, this question is in my mind as well. Should I tell the world what I am doing? But I did a breakdown of this subject with my mentors. They told me that if your intention is to inspire others for their spiritual practice, then it's fine to share.

So I think a lot of people are watching this episode from the perspective of inspiration.

So I think naturally, it has come now. Generally, I don't say it. But I have said it because it has naturally come. So, yeah. When you are in the media industry, you hear stories about other media professionals. Yeah.

I have heard a lot about you in the last 3-4 years.

Okay.

That you are actually a very deep person. But in private settings. Why do people say that?

First of all, I want my work to speak for me. I feel that my work should speak for me. And for good or for bad, I don't know. But nowadays, the more you speak about yourself, the more people think that you are calm. But I feel that if my work is good, then he will speak for himself.

So that's why I stay quiet. Secondly, as far as I think it's a matter of deep rooted, I think it depends on person to person. I am introvert by nature. I don't open up very easily. I take my own time. But when I do, I speak. But at times I just keep it to myself because I take time to open up.

And the other person thinks that I don't know if I talk or not. So maybe that happens. Would you say that you are training your acting to understand life better? I think it's not only about the profession, I think that's about life. I am sure when you talk to yourself, you are not doing it to become a good actor. You are doing it to become a better person. Maturity maybe?

Yeah, maybe. You call it maturity or you call it just being a better version of yourself. You know? I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody you know I think that happens with everybody all these things help you grow in person?

I have a friend, he is very smart. Very capable guy.

I think he is one of the highest potential guys I know,

in terms of career potential. But he has a flaw, which I haven't told him.

But everyone around him knows this.

That he talks more than he listens. He talks a lot. You need to switch at some point and be in a position that I will listen more and talk less. And that is a big switch in life but everyone has to learn this.

When did this switch happen in your life? Just listen more than you speak.

I think I've always been a good listener. More than a talker. And also, there's a saying, speak what your heart says, and it will calm you down.

And, I've heard this a times in my childhood that before saying anything, think about it 10 times and then say it. I think I have learned that from my childhood. So many times, there are such things that I want to say a lot, but I don't speak it out. I do have an opinion at times, but I don't blurt it out. I keep it to myself unless it is making some change,

maybe in the other person or maybe for my own self, then I would. Otherwise, I'll just keep it to myself.

Saurabh, Raj Jain. What is Raj?

Raj is my mother's name.

Oh, wow.

My mother's name is Raj Rani Jain. So I have just added my mother's name as a middle name.

Sweet.

Do you have a deep connection with her?

A lot. Because if she is upset, I get upset. If she is happy, I get happy. So yeah, I have a soul connection with them. And the first year of my life, was just me and my mother. So, that's it.

What is your oldest memory? I have one memory. My mother was studying and earning at the same time and running the house, doing her degree course and everything by herself. And when she used to get tired the whole day and when we used to be at home in the evening,

so she always, no matter how tired she was, she would always take me to the bakery shop nearby and feed me a pineapple pastry. No matter what. You know, I am holding back a lot from saying or from asking you that did mummy know that Shri Krishna is sitting at home. That I don't know but yes, once in Janmashtami, there was a temple near our house. So there, first of all, I think, first of all, I made Shri Krishna there. Oh wow! Yeah. Oh damn! Mummy made it. Mummy decorated it. Oh my god! Wow! That was first time. Wow! I also became Shri Krishna in my childhood. I think everyone became.

All cute boys became. Cute or not cute, it doesn't matter. We say, Bal, Bal Krishna. All children have Krishna. I think, irrespective.

Do you remember that Janmashtami celebration of childhood?

Yes, I mean, in the temple, I remember it all. For a long time, I mean, it's like, there's a stage and you're standing, and there's a tree,

and then there are peacocks. It's all in a set up, and then in the middle, the Krishna is standing in just one pose. I remember standing there for a very long time, in the same pose. And remember standing there for a very long time in the same pose. And after that, I also remember that in the temple, the offering is offered, right?

So, what you do is, you give it to the priest and the priest offers it to God. He offers a little to God and then gives the rest to you. So, I remember in the same temple, the priest was given the offering by his priest and the priest was offering it to God and was taking it out in front of God. And I was looking at my mom and she was like, it will get empty. And I'm saying, she will finish it all. What will she get?

I remember that.

When that phase of 2010s happened in your life, what did your mom say?

Oh, she was very happy, I think. At first, I don't think she ever wanted from a family of lawyers. My mother is a lawyer, my grandfather was a lawyer. So he never thought that I would become an actor. I never thought that I would become an actor. And I became one. So for a long time, you will not imagine, when I came to Mumbai, until I think Mahabharat happened, even after that, my mother was always adamant, you do law.

She would keep on telling me. I mean, one of my shows used to get over. And you know how the life of an actor is. One show gets over, you never know when you will get the new show. Then there is a waiting period.

So, in that waiting period, the family members are like, the kid is not doing anything. So at that time, my mother would always tell me, You are waiting, do it. But I will fill your form somewhere and come.

You do that too. She would always tell me this. Visualizing you as a lawyer. Court. So yeah. So mummy is very practical in that way.

She's happy of course for whatever that I've done and wherever I've reached. But for a very long time, I can't say that she supported me in being an actor. That support came from my wife. That support actually came from my wife. When did you get married? In 2010. Oh wow! Before Mahabhar wife. When did you get married? In 2010.

Oh wow!

Before Mahabharat. What was your age then? I was 24, 24-25. Okay. And how did you both meet? Dance class.

Wow!

Yeah, my desperation of learning dance because I am a very bad dancer, not a very good dancer. And to end her boredom, she did that because she is an IT professional. She was going to the office and she was bored going to the office on a daily basis. And then she joined that class and I joined and that's how we joined for life.

But got married at 24.

Yeah, 24-25. Yes.

She has seen your entire journey.

Entire journey. Yeah. It was before Mahabharat.

Yeah.

That waiting period I talked to you about, the pilot, she was there at that time also because we were together before marriage.

Yeah. She is your coach in some ways.

In many ways, I think. Coach for life. So what did she say in the early days of Mahabharat? What did she say? I would just say that whenever there was a situation

or phase in life in which she would just in which I had doubts about myself or any insecurity I would just ask her, are you sure that I'll be able to do it? And she would just look at me and of course, I know you'll do it.

What was your insecurity? I can't understand. And I'll tell you why.

Yeah.

When I didn't even understand the media, when I used to watch that show, I would wait for you to be on screen. Because I don't know whether it's confidence or positivity or what it was, but there was a magic around you. So it's very difficult for me to wrap my head around that you had some insecurity.

Oh, see, the one sitting in front of you is a human being, right? I am not even an iota of the dimension that people relate me to. Not even an iota.

Everyone thinks that you are actually Shri Krishna.

Yes.

Wow.

Even in my comment section, so many times I keep hearing things like, you know, that you should only be Krishna, you should only be in this getup. You should only... I mean, they relate. And I completely, you know completely accept it. That's their love for Almighty. But as a person, as an actor, sometimes you do feel that you are a human being as well.

And like the insecurity, the doubts, the ups and downs of life is very similar to any other person like you and me or anybody in this room. It is all the same. So the doubts, the insecurity, earlier there were many but now they are much lesser. Like I told you that we grow as person. So at that time I had those doubts, definitely I had those doubts. And Ridhima would always help me out with those. Have you ever talked to Nitish sir about this?

I have never talked to him. Really? Never. In fact, I wanted to meet him but I could never meet him for whatever reason. Because I have seen him in my childhood.

I think I have seen him in reruns of Mahabharat. I have always him in Mahabharat, he is very much appreciated for his work. And to connect my name with his name, I mean, I can't even imagine. You know, people do say that, but for me, he is him. Can I tell you something? In the history of independent India, there are only two people whose names are associated with Shri Krishna.

Both of you are special souls. So many people have played mythological characters, but still, on the real algorithms, you and his face comes up to represent Krishna's energy.

Very heavy duty blessing.

That's all him. I remember whenever there was a shot, when we were filming it, I have said this many times before and I totally believe in that. Whatever I did, I was just a medium, a channel and it was all with his grace that it happened. And before every shot, I used to say this with folded hands, whatever you do, I am not doing anything. I mean I am not doing anything. And I still carry that with me. Whenever I get any appreciation, it's tu ki na, main kuch ki na nahi. Wow. Matlab main kuch nahi kar raha. Aur wo main aaj bhi wo leke chalta hu.

Jab bhi koi appreciation, kuch bhi milta hai, it's all his. It's all for him. Nothing for me. You know, that is how I take it. I feel blessed.

I feel blissful for the role and the opportunity that I got but I know that it's people's love for him and I respect that.

When you were delivering those dialogues, especially in monologues, there was another energy speaking through you for sure.

I think that was a zone of nothingness. It was because I of nothingness. You know, it was... Because I had surrendered completely.

Were you in a meditative state?

Always.

Acting as well?

Always, that time... Yeah. Because when I would say this and... I've... What is meditation? I mean, for my understanding, as far as I know, it's a complete surrender. Is what meditation is.

When you are surrendering yourself to the almighty, to the universe, or whatever name that you want to. I was in that zone all the time when I was doing it. How was your childhood? My childhood wasn't that great. It wasn't. But at the same time, like I told you that I have not carried that baggage with me. I haven't.

I've only learned from it. And I think the reason primarily is one of my teachers in my school. I still remember her name. Her name is Shakuntala ma'am. And she was also the principal that time. And she used to teach psychology So she had told us about nature and nurture in her subject

You know a lot of things that happens in your life is either nature Through or the nurture how you are progressing in life, you know So it is up to you what you want to hold on to So in life, things happen because of nature or because of the environment around you. Yes, because of that. And in that same situation, two people can become very different people in a similar situation.

You can choose. The choice is yours at that point of time that what you want to hold on to. Luckily, because of my mother and luckily because of my wonderful wife and now my children, I think I've hold on to the right things and the good things in life. So I don't have any, what do you call it, scars as such. And even if there were any scars in my childhood, I don't have any pain from that. There's nothing.

Were there any scars in your 20s related to childhood?

There were till 20s. I think by the time Mahabharat came, it was all off. Mahabharat became a switch for me in many ways. Many many ways. Financially, professionally, as a person. lot of it changed after Mahabharat. In fact, I can say now, you know, when you talk about why I can't imagine you, me having doubt or whatever,

but when I came to Mumbai, I had come with just few thousand bucks. Parents were not supportive. Financially, I was just studying in the second year so how would I have you know many people who came along with me on that show had help from their houses you know financial support they had houses, cars, I had nothing of that sort. You are talking about the remix?

Yes I am talking about the remix. You were playing an underprivileged character in that show if I remember right? Underconfident but not privileged. It was a Sikh guy. It was a Sikh guy who was not ready to accept his religion. Yeah.

I remember. Very good, good screen presence even then. Yeah, really? Yeah, genuinely. I mean... Height also, overpowering character.

But whatever, there was Theraf. But I would never think that this guy playing the Sikh character is going to play Shri Krishna. Sometimes I think that... ...how did Siddharth sir think? I thought that maybe Iqtapur rejected me because of my height.

Why not?

Why not is... ...to them, not to me. I thought that maybe they rejected times because of my height. Not only for this role but many other roles. Because in TV, they used to think that girls don't get this tall in pairing. So, in pairing, tall people won't be able to pair with tall people.

So, I've been rejected many a times. Many a times. But that has not shaken me in any way. Initially, earlier, I used to have those doubts. Those insecurities that I was speaking about.

That why is my height so high?

And I'll tell you something amazing. I mean... Like a friendly note. If a person is in a darker shade, if you say something for him, he can get offended. And others will feel bad.

If someone is of a shorter height, if you say something to him, he can get offended and feel bad. But if someone is very tall, and if you say something to him, he can't even get offended. He doesn't have the right to get offended.

He just has to keep listening.

You know.

Yeah.

Wow. Now do you understand how I wanted to ask you about Shri Krishna? I wanted to get to know the human.

How did you select him? Now you tell me how it happened.

To be very honest with you. The main logic is that you genuinely Tell me how it happened? After knowing this. To be very honest with you, the main logic is that you are genuinely a vessel actor. Like I call myself a vessel actor. You allow the role, the energy to speak. I think that's the main reason.

Professionally speaking, this is your professional style. That acting is your self-righteousness.

Oh, it is.

You are going into a meditative state because of acting. It means you were born to act. That I love the most. Acting is something which I like you said, self-duty. And until my last breath, I want to act.

I want to be a character which can influence people in a better way. I want to be an actor which can entertain people at the same time can transform their life in a better way. That is what I think I am made to do.

Do you know the word free will? Yes. A person's own choice. So what is free will in this

narrative?

It's very deep. According to my understanding. And I will say that I have in no way any authority to speak much on it. Because I don't consider myself a Sadhak.

I'm as normal as you or anybody in this room. But I focus more on choices than free will. Like I told you about nature and nurture, our choices is what makes us. But is it due to the free will? Or is it our own choices?

You know? The two separate things or maybe the same? You never know. It's like that.

I think... Free will is a very raw thing. You can do anything, you can think anything. Choice decides a lot about your future chapter. God gives you that much choice.

I think that's what you're trying to say.

So how did you get that free will?

I mean, to a large degree, life is predestined.

So the thing is, if we keep thinking in such a measure and scale, I feel like we'll make in such a measure and scale, I feel we will make our lives very difficult. The important thing is to be as simple as possible. Not to get into complications. I believe that simplicity is not just in our attire, but in our thinking.

It is very important. I think, my mother, even though she's a lawyer, but I see her devotion, she meditates a lot, and is very much in her own things. She is so simple, whatever you say to her,

she will bring such a simple version of it to you, that you will say, it's not like that. is not how it happens. But this is how it happens. It is the same fact which is very simple. In your thoughts, in any situation,

in any situation, if you want you can complicate it by thinking, by thinking, by measuring, you can complicate it by thinking, measuring and making it anything. But if you just look at it in a simple way, it will be very easy. If we keep reading free will, choices, then I think it complicates life.

There is one more compliment for you.

I just made it. I wanted to say, I just couldn't find the words. But your presence is very light. Because I feel you are a light person. It's getting reflected by your shirt you are wearing.

I mean, it's lightness. Did you work on this too?

Or was it like this before? We all evolve. I think if you had met me 10-15 years ago, I wouldn't have been like this. We all evolve. I think if you had met me 10-15 years ago, I wouldn't have been the same. We all evolve. I'm sure you were like this 10-15 years ago. You won't be the same now. Nobody is... I won't say anybody is same. All my friends I meet after 10-15 years, they all evolve, like you said, matured.

You have to do it. It happens with your experiences. And especially, like I told you, if you are a person who is introspective, who analyses things, who self-talks, it happens. It is very natural with anybody and everybody.

What has changed in you as a human? What has changed in your spiritual journey?

I think after doing that show, or during that time, the feeling of surrender that I got, that was not there before. That feeling that I told you earlier, that whatever is being done, is being done, that feeling of many times more surrender, that feeling, I think, developed somewhere. And that, I think, was a shift in my life completely after that.

Do you ever go to Vrindavan? Yes, I have been there many times. What do you feel there? Krishna is everywhere. In fact, I have a poem Ek Vairagi Ek Sansari. I wrote it there. When I was there, I think I was on a show called Travel based show related to the temples and I had written it over there. You get that feeling there. You are in your trance, you can say.

You are in that zone where Krishna is present all around you. So you get that feeling. But I would like to tell you that feeling can come while living here. We have to go somewhere. You can go. You have complete freedom, you have respect for that place, any place.

But you can carry that feeling everywhere if you want to. And that will happen only when you surrender. If you go there and still can't leave your ego, your ego, your self even after going there, then it can't happen. It can't happen even after going there.

A few years ago I read a quote. Very powerful quote. The quote is, the only zen you find on top of mountains is the zen you carry there. This is what you are saying. That don't go here and there.

Search for spirituality.

Go.

You have to experience it. You go. Like that poem came to me there. And people liked it a lot. I think it was supposed to be made there. So it was made there.

So you go. I'm not saying you don't go. You go where you have respect. Definitely go. You can go wherever you feel respected. But I just want to say that you can feel the vibrations anywhere you are. Because what place is not theirs? You know, I have read something very good a few days ago that

human body is made of 7 octavian atoms. And each atom is almost billions of years old. So entire human body is a universe in itself. You know? So, I mean...

It's everywhere. It's right here.

Jai Shri Krishna.

Sorry.

Yeah, please.

Sorry, sir. Had to do it.

Had to do it. Had to do it.

How do people treat you in Vrindavan?

Like they treat me everywhere.

Which is what?

Like you are treating me.

Like Jai Shri Krishna.

I think, in the beginning, this is the image people have. But I think after they have a conversation with me, they are like how you are with me right now. This job is really fun. It's raining outside, we are having coffee, talking. This is my job.

I feel the same. I am thinking of starting something like this. You will be a great podcast host. Are you serious? Yeah, I feel. How are you so deep actually as a person? I mean, do you study these philosophical inputs? Or is it like this in all your conversations? I think reading is part of it.

There was a time I used to read a lot. But post-COVID, I haven't. What did you read? All sorts of books. Whatever I feel I am getting something from, anything that I am able to learn. I might not even retain many of it, but whatever I think is in my subconscious mind.

So I used to read a lot, but not since Covid. I think I should get back. Hmm. Religious books or anything? All sorts. All of them. It's not like someone has a biography about a country or religious books Anything. I like reading.

What's up now in 2025?

I am doing a show right now Tu Dhadkan Mein Dil on Star Plus So I will go there directly It's set is in Umargaon Where is Umargaon? Dil in the film, which is based on Star Plus So I'll just do this and go straight there The set is in Umargaon

Where is Umargaon? Umargaon is the same place where Mahabharat was shot It's by the same river It's on the Gujarat border So if there's no traffic, we can reach in 2.5-3 hours But if there's traffic, it can take 6 hours

How does that vibe stay?

To live outside Mumbai and shoot? When we shoot, I think it's good and bad, both the things. You are away from home, away from your family, away from home food. So definitely that is a hassle. But there is no traffic there. You just focus on your work, on your character. And a lot of your time is spent with the people of your unit.

So there is a bonding of a different level. So that is seen in the work. So that is a good thing. So there are positives and negatives of that.

I think a lot of mythology shows are shot there, right?

Yes, they are shot there only. They have their own studio called Swastik Bhoomi. So they make most... all their shows are there only.

Set of heaven. They have their own studio called Swastik Bhoomi. So they make most all their shows over there only. Heaven set.

Palace set.

Kailash Parbat. Vrindavan. You name it, you'll have it there. Come there sometime.

What's the energy like?

Oh, it's beautiful. It's right next to the beach. Greenery is all around the studio. When it rains, the sound is just like the sound coming from outside the studio. When it rains, the sound is just like the sound you hear outside your studio. It's just like that. It's peaceful. And to go from one set to another, you have that... What do you call those?

Buggy.

Buggy. That's what you have to go. You feel like as if you're in a resort.

Wow.

You said that after coming to Mahabharata, your life changed a little. Were there any precursors? Did you see any dreams in that phase? Or when the show started?

I can't remember any such thing. I just remember having a very very good time, blissful time. Immersed in my work, in my dialogues, especially in the dialogues because Krishna character had lot many dialogues throughout. So I remember just being with the scripts most of the times when others might be just chilling here and there.

I remember that. Complex dialogues. Yeah, yeah, complex. Because I remember my...

...director-producer Siddharth Sir telling me that you have to mean every word you say.

So that is what I just kept in mind all the time. And for that I needed to understand each and every word of it. You know, I couldn't have just mugged it up and just say it because then it would not connect. I remember sitting on the terrace so many nights with my director Mukesh sir and just going through the process of the next day shoot to understand each line and expressions and the meaning. There is a surface level meaning and the hidden meaning, all of that. I remember sleeping very late at night just to prepare for the shoot of the next day

many a times, so I was totally engrossed in that period

I have one last question

Okay

Do you believe in astrology?

Yes and no, I mean I am not too much into it Same

I understood what you are saying It's nice, It's a good system but at the end of the day, it's your own hard work, your own free will. But I have learned one truth about astrology through the show. That your chart, especially the birth chart, the lagna chart, which people draft upon your birth are born. To some extent, it is a preview of your suffering. Okay, basically, Sanatan Dharma believes that

I think there are 17 planes of existence. Heaven is one of them, hell is one of them, and where we are, Bhulok, is a middle plane. It's not like heaven or hell.

But here, a soul gets a lot of evolution. Because it's a balanced plane. There are no distractions of heaven. And there are no difficulties of hell. So it's the right place to evolve. That's why it's said that the gods evolve. Isliye kehte hain ki devta bhi yeh chahate hain ki

is lok mein unhe janm mile. Toh agar aapko ek insaan banne ki opportunity mili hai, toh usse utilize karna

chahiye growth ke liye. Wo toh hai, obviously. Bahut senior actor ne mujhe ek baar ek cheez boli thi ki that if you are born as a human being, then you are the best. You understand? You are the best. That means you have got the best qualities. If you are born as a human being. If you are born as an artist, then you are the best.

Wow! If you are an artist, a dancer, an actor, or any other skill, then you are the best. And if you are a musician, then you are the best. Because it has vibrations.

I get jealous of musicians. Because I can't sing to save myself anywhere. But your performances feel like songs. Seriously. Yeah. And as far as you are saying, we often think about what will happen, what will not happen, we will do something, we will not do something. So, Ayodhya Singh Upadhyay's poem is very beautiful.

Very beautiful. Should I say? Please, please. Radhya Singh Upadhyay's poem is very beautiful. Very beautiful. Can I say it?

Please, please.

It's something like this. If it's a little high or low, please forgive me. Because a long time ago, The one who left the cradle of clouds, Was just a drop, and moved ahead. I kept thinking about it,

Why did I leave home and move ahead? God is in my fate, what do I say? And the conclusion is, wo usi me ja bani, moti bani. Wow. Aur iska nishkarsh, Log yon hi hai jhijakte sochte, jab ki unko chhodna padta hai ghar, kintu ghar ka chhodna aksar unhe, boond lo kuch aur hi deta hai ghar.

Wow.

Toh aap sochte raho, kuch bhi, matlab kitni bhi complexity, complexity. But ultimately you will reach wherever your destination is.

Do you have any vision for the future? For your future?

I don't know about myself. I just want to make my kids good people. I want to make them good people.

You are living through their journeys now?

I am. Completely. Completely. You know, what you said, this is the truth of being a good father. Living through your children's journeys. Not everyone understands this. I think one full generation of guys is just learning it.

There was magic in this episode. And I wanted to just experience that magic. Genuinely. It's about human presence. Generally, I'm a very socially awkward kind of a person. Introvert. Yes. I take some time to open up. I go to near and dear ones, but if I meet someone once and they invite me, then I might not go. I take time to open up.

Do you have a practice that you're doing? What? Like meditation or... That I do.

What are you doing? Personal.

Yeah, I think meditation and all these things are very very personal personal. And I think, everyone is individualistic. It shouldn't be that he did this, so he should do that. You know, I think it's a very good saying. What is the saying? Everyone knows that Buddha ji went through a lot of things. After that, he got enlightenment in his own way.

You know, but what happens happens is we just reach there and if we meet them in this way, then just follow it. It's not that. Everybody has their own kind of a journey. Do you want enlightenment for yourself? Of course. In this life? In this life.

In this life. I think that is one of the strongest thing I feel. I do.

A lot of people don't understand this. But this is I feel, I do. A lot of people don't understand this. But this is the main goal of my life. Above everything else. This goal and this social work goal is a race going on.

Which one should I put more intensity in? As in, where does the heart put more intensity from itself, I don't know. But this is what we need, enlightenment. I won't say enlightenment, but let's just say point of Moksha, point of Nirvana.

And what is that? What is that? We want to reach there but what is that? First of all, I want to understand that. You know, we talk, we use words,

we talk about many things around it. But until and unless you experience it, you will never know. And you can't experience anything by knowing the other person has experienced it. You have to have your own experience.

That's why I said that what I do is irrelevant to anybody else. It is. But the practice you are practicing is taking you ahead I believe so. Have you read any book that influenced you in this domain? I think many have read that and I read it in my childhood autobiography of a yogi I did long long back I think I was in eighth standard and I did. Long, long back. I think I was in 8th standard and I did not understand a word of it. Because one of my distant aunt, she lived in US and I also had those questions in everyone's mind.

I also had those questions and I asked her because she came across somebody who I could ask questions and she just gave me that book And I read it and I could not understand even a single word of it because it was English is so high-fi It took me a lot of time to understand. I had to take a dictionary

You have to read that book anyway The first 4 chapters are very difficult

4-5 chapters And then you are totally engrossed in it And then I was just in my mind I I was just looking out for Babaji. I was in my mind. I would talk with him. I would interact with him.

You know, I would call him. Yeah. This is a podcast. Were you expecting this? That we would have a conversation like this? With you actually I was.

Because somewhere I feel you are also a deep person. And I do feel that you are a very sensible person. And you don't always think about superficial things. You tend to find the inner meaning of things.

I feel life is too short to keep conversations on level one. I am talking to you. So I will talk to you in a very deep voice. Saurabh bhai, it was fun. But very nice meeting you. Thank you for your work.

That's what I want to say. Thank you. It's all thanks to him, not my work. Genuinely, your work has healed a lot of people. Your face, your acting, you becoming a vessel. I thank all your life's experiences also for bringing you to that point.

Because the work you did was a very heavy duty work.

It was all him. And this whole episode is an ode to that work that you have done. Whatever work was meant to come out through media at that point.

Those who are watching this episode from the perspective of a genmashtami, do you have a message for them?

First of all, I would like to wish them a happy janmashtami. And I would like to tell them that the meaning that I have understood in my doings or whatever I have read a little bit, it is the same in one word, that is compassion. Just bring compassion in your beings. I think it's really required in the society at large right now that you need to be very compassionate towards everyone. You need to be compassionate towards yourself as well.

And this is the essence. If there is no compassion, there is nothing. If there is no compassion, there is nothing. No matter what you do, don't fight with yourself, don't fight with those around you. Stay calm.

Jai Shri Krishna.

Jai Shri Krishna.

Thank you, Saurabh bhai. It was fun. Just thank you for being in the studio.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Thank you so much.