Clothes on to clothes off

Bidaai’s ‘covered’ Alekh, Angad Hasija, becomes Phulwa’s bared-chest Shankar.

Angad Hasija may have moved from one leading channel to another but he continues to be seen in the same slot, 9 pm. The actor, popularly known as Alekh from Sapnaa Babul Ka Bidaai on Star Plus, has entered Phulwa on Colors, the show based on the life of the slain dacoit-politician Phulan Devi.

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“I used to be covered head to toe in my first show. I wasn’t even supposed to open a button of my shirt more than required. Here, I shoot all day without any piece of clothing on top. So far, I’ve only shot wearing a dhoti,” says Angad, adding, “We were in studios most of the time. For Phulwa, I’m only shooting outdoors. Since it’s really hot and bright all day, I’ve started using more sun block lotion than I ever did, and it still doesn’t help much.”

The actor is reportedly playing the man in Phulwa’s life that she marries at a really young age. He’s also the one who torments her enough to have a change of heart and eventually become a dacoit who takes on the thakurs in her village. When asked, Angad bursts into a giggles and says, "When I took on the show, I knew the show was roughly based on Phulan Devi’s life. Now, whether I eventually marry Phulwa in the show or not is still undecided. I’ve just joined the team, so it’s a bit early for me to know these things. But I’m the only man in the show that Phulwa (Jannat) fears."

Angad has spent months working out everyday in the gym to beef up for his character in the show produced by Siddharth Tewary. “I didn’t want people to recall Alekh when they saw me on this show. Here, I’m a nasty dehati goon, and I want them to think of me that way, only then will it become a believable character,” he says. “Apart from looking different, I’m now learning to speak in the Awadhi-coloured Hindi, which is extremely difficult to get.”