For actor Saurabh Shukla, who has been a part of the industry for more than two decades now, the idea of success has never been tied to expensive cars and more, a visible symbol that often dominates conversations around actors today. In an industry where perception can sometimes overshadow performance, he draws a clear, almost old-school distinction between personal choices and professional worth, insisting that the two should never be confused.

While he admits that he enjoys the finer things in life, he says they shouldn’t define him as an actor. “I love driving, I enjoy cars. I have a taste for expensive cars,” he says. “But I prefer not showing all that. I prefer to be known for my work, my talent. Whether I drive a certain car or not, whether I show it or don’t show it, that is not going to decide how good an actor I am. These are completely separate things,” he explains, pushing back against the growing tendency to equate lifestyle with success. “If you start believing that these things define you, then there is a problem. They are just personal choices, nothing more.”

Further elaborating his thoughts, the actor addresses the industry’s increasing dependence on PR, hype culture, and image-building. The 63-year-old does not deny its relevance; in fact, he acknowledges it as an essential part of the ecosystem but also asserts its limitations.

“Dekhiye, mai bina PR ke chalta hoon. Itne salon mei mera koi PR nahi raha hai, meri toh bathroom ki tilon ke bare mei koi charcha nahi kar raha, aur kare bhi kyu.” He adds, “PR is important, it is a part of the strategy. It helps your work reach people, it helps people know that something is coming. But it cannot replace the work itself. You cannot build yourself only on hype, because eventually the audience is not staying for that. They stay for what you do on screen.”

Unlike many of his contemporaries navigating a hyper-visible space, Shukla, who recently directed Jab Khuli Kitab, says he has largely stayed away from a constant, personality-driven PR machinery. “In my entire career, I have never had a personal PR running behind me all the time. It was always project to project,” he shares. “But it never stopped me. People still know me, they connect with my work. That has always been enough and that’s how it should be,” he ends.

Dhurandhar actor Vivek Sinha recently spoke about the overwhelming response to his performance, his unconventional journey, and the life lessons that shaped him. From going viral for his intense role to receiving love—even from across the border—the actor didn’t hold back.

Dhurandhar actor Vivek Sinha recently spoke about the overwhelming response to his performance, his unconventional journey, and the life lessons that shaped him. From going viral for his intense role to receiving love—even from across the border—the actor didn’t hold back.

‘I even got love from Pakistan’

Talking about the reactions pouring in on social media, Vivek shared how audiences are both furious at his character and impressed by his performance.“Instagram has almost 2,000 comments. I’m actually enjoying it… everyone is saying that watching me makes them so angry they feel like jumping into the screen and hitting me. But at the same time, they’re saying my acting is very good… that I made it feel very real,” he told Zee News.He added that while many comments praise his work, some can get extreme. “Some people are even writing that they’ll come to Pakistan and hit me… so I had to clarify, ‘Brother, I’m not Pakistani—I’m Indian. I’m from Bijnor, from Dhampur.’”Interestingly, Vivek revealed that he has also been receiving appreciation from Pakistan.“I’ve received a lot of messages from Pakistan saying, ‘Sir, I love you from Pakistan.’ I told them, wait… we’ll talk later,” he said with a laugh, adding that audiences everywhere are connecting with his performance.

A tough childhood and a single mother’s strength

Opening up about his personal life, Vivek spoke emotionally about losing his father at a young age.“My luck was such… I was just six years old when my father passed away. My mother raised me as a single parent… and I never felt a lack of anything in life,” he said.He credited his confidence and positivity to his mother’s upbringing. “The confidence and happiness I have in life today… it’s all because of her.”

From Bijnor to theatre to films

Vivek’s journey into acting wasn’t planned. Coming from a small town in Bijnor, he followed a conventional path before discovering theatre.“My life was completely normal… I studied, got a job… then someone suggested I try acting. I didn’t even know what theatre was,” he recalled.His first experience in theatre was far from glamorous. “I got a role called ‘the fourth villager.’ I had just one line in the entire script—‘Sir, the wells have dried up.’ I got bored in three days,” he laughed.But things changed when he landed a better role and began performing on stage. “The first time I performed on stage, people appreciated me… that’s where my journey really began.”