Rahul Sharma of Ek Ghar Banaunga fame takes on the role of the beloved Bhushan in the latest ALTBalaji original web series Helllo Jee, launched on 1st February 2021. Bhushan is the central male character in the series, he is one of the rare good ones which makes ‘Angelina’ who is not used to good men fall for him. Rahul Sharma talks in detail about the character and the show.
Tell us about ‘Helllo Jee’?
Helllo Jee is a story of a girl and her journey of how she meets different people/characters and how those characters have their own problems and struggles. But still, this girl manages to be a part of their lives and makes a way out of those struggles together as family members.
Tell us something about your character?
I am playing the character of Bhushan who is the positive lead of the show. Basically, Bhushan is a small-town boy and from a small family, who was raised in the shadows of poverty. There is a struggle in his life but is always willing to take risks and carve a way for himself. Bhushan is an innocent character still there is a bit of sharpness in him when it comes to his work and his life. He is a very ‘Desi type’ man who is connected to his roots. Has many friends and that chill attitude within him. There is a girl who he loves very much and this story is around that girl only.
You replaced Ansh Bagri for the role overnight. Any thoughts?
I don’t know about Ansh Bagri being a part of this show, because when I was approached for the show I sent them my Audition, and within 2-3 days they wanted to finalize me because they didn’t have many days left to start the shoot. So, I got selected just 2-3 days before the start of the shoot.
What made you say yes to the show?
This is my first web series as a lead. I have been offered many shows in the past but in every show, they talked more about other things than the story, so I have rejected many series before this. But in this series, my character is very focused as to what he wants to do and how. And in the whole show, he is focused on one aim and he does not divert his aim till the end. That was the reason which attracted me the most and this will be the reason why people are going to like my character.
What are your thoughts on the concept of ‘Helllo Jee’?
Helllo Jee has a very interesting concept, not because it is my show but in general. There is a very interesting story that involves many characters who are living their lives in agony and how a small thing turns their lives upside down. There is a shift in their lives when they set up a business together and strive to make a better future together. Being a youth-centric show, people are going to love it.
What preparations have you done for your character in the show?
Preparing for Bhushan was quite tough for me, as I came at the last moment for the show and at first I was not able to find that Bhushan inside myself. So, I faced many problems during the shoot at the start as I was not able to bring my character to life. I was not able to attend all of the workshops for the show and on top of that, I fell sick right before the shoot. So, it was all-natural what I performed on set, even with the dialect and diction which was required to do justice to my character. And when we were shooting at different places, to understand the dialect of those areas I used to go to those places 4-5 days before the shoot to grasp as much as I could. Let’s hope that the audience loves my character.
How is your experience shooting with the co-stars? Did you shoot any intimate scenes with them?
Experience with the co-stars was absolutely superb and everybody was fabulous. We had a great time on set. I mostly shot with Nyra, Kashish, and Nitin, so I had a great time with them and even with the young co-stars, they were also brilliant like Rahul Verma, Dheerendra, etc. We had loads of fun on the set, so more than the show we created memories. There are no intimate scenes but a few romantic scenes in the show. I am happy that they are beautifully shot and will be presented to you guys beautifully as well. It was a part of the story and will help in the progression of the story. Otherwise, I would have said no to such a character if it had involved erotic scenes.
What are your expectations from ‘Helllo Jee’?
Like everybody in the Show, I also believe that Helllo Jee will do well. We have worked very hard on this project and we all want our work to be noticed and appreciated by the audience. I personally want to leave a mark on this platform as I did in the television industry.
What is your take on Nepotism?
Nepotism is everywhere not only in the industry but in every occupation. I personally don’t have any complaints about nepotism as people worked hard for it, their parents worked hard for it and their children are getting the benefits of those sacrifices and struggles. On the other hand, it is not easy to be the child of a celebrity as it involves a lot of expectations from you as well. You have to prove your worth to the industry and audience and if you are not able to prove they are worthy they are considered a failure. So, nepotism is a neutral term for me.
What is your take on the term ‘Womance’? How much are you getting paid? Did you face any money slash due to COVID?
I got a decent amount for the show. It was not low but I was comfortable with the amount. If you have good people around you, everything is worth it.
Tell us about your upcoming projects apart from ‘Helllo Jee’
Currently, I am on talking terms with a lot of television shows as well as web shows. So as soon as I confirm, I will let you all know the good news.
