When Delhi boy Sehban Azim moved to Mumbai and gave up a well-paid job to do something more creative, it was a gamble -but one that has paid rich dividends. After dabbling with modelling and short film projects, Sehban finally found a toehold in showbiz with Dill Mill Gayye, followed by stints in Ek Haazaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, Thapki…Pyaar Ke, Humsafars and the long-running soap Tujhse Hai Raabta that wrapped up last year, among others. Currently playing the lead role in Spy Bahu, Sehban who was in Ahmedabad recently, spoke about staying relevant in a female-dominated industry.
‘TV HAS CHANGED MY LIFE, TAUGHT ME A LOT’
When Sehban chose to pursue his showbiz dreams, television was not his first choice. He says, “When I was modelling and doing short films, I used to get offers for daily shows. I turned them down as I couldn’t relate to them. Then Dill Mill Gayye came my way (in 2009) and changed my perspective about working on the small screen. Today after a decade and 10 shows later, I am proud to be associated with TV because I have learnt so much as a professional from TV. There’s so much to do in a limited time frame. TV has been like an intensive workshop for me and helped me grow as an actor. Also, the audience has showered so much love on me.” The initial transition to TV wasn’t that easy for Sehban. He says, “My job kept me financially sound but after I did a print shoot for a friend, I felt it could also be a possible career option for me. There was a point when nothing was working out for me, but my parents encouraged me to push myself and follow my heart.”
‘AM NOT SURE I CAN BE SPONTANEOUS ON CAMERA WITHOUT A SCRIPT’
Unlike his contemporaries Sehban has never stepped out of the fiction TV space to reality shows – either as an anchor or a participant. Sehban says, “I prefer getting into a character when I face the camera. I am not comfortable being myself on camera and am not sure if I can be spontaneous, that is the reason why I choose to stay away from them. However, I am not saying I’ll never do one. Maybe, I will at some point.”
‘INITIALLY WAS JUDGED FOR MY SKIN TONE, BUT NOW TV HAS EVOLVED’
Staying relevant in a female-dominated space isn’t the easiest thing for any actor. Sehban admits that he’s had his share of reservations too. He says, “I am glad I moved to TV at the right time. I never felt I was overshadowed by my female co-star in any show, I have always played key characters till now, be it Thapki or Bepannaah or Udaan. I have not been at a stage where I am standing, and I have nothing to say or do in a show. That’s why I am still relevant.”
For Sehban, another hurdle has been unconventional looks. He agrees, “Hindi TV shows had a set criterion of looks for both male and female leads and even the antagonists but slowly things are changing. I was the only dusky guy on screen for a very long time. Some people even told me to use makeup to look ‘fair’. Luckily now, heroes can be dark and handsome.”
‘LIVED IN NAVSARI FOR A MONTH IN 2021, GUJARATIS ARE WARM’
Sehban says he had expected to take some time out and explore Ahmedabad, but that didn’t happen. He says, “My very good friend Pooja Gor keeps talking about Ahmedabad. She specifically suggested I visit the heritage sites like Adalaj Ni Vav, Sarkhej Roza and Sabarmati Ashram and sample khakhras and khandvi. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do any of that.” Sehban lived in Navsari for over a month in 2021 where he shot for Tujhse…when TV show shoots had moved out of Mumbai during the second wave-induced lockdowns. He shares, “We stayed at a few farmhouses. Navsari was so serene and the people there were so warm.”
‘I AM HAPPIEST WHEN I AM ON THE SETS OF A TV SHOW’
Post Dill Mill Gayye and Tujhse…Sehban has a huge female fanbase to his credit. Ask him about this and he says, “Adulation from female fans is heartening. At times, I am not sure how one needs to respond to it as I am an introvert. I am happiest when I am on the sets of a TV show. Off screen, I am a regular guy, who is a bit shy and happy in his own world.”
