Actor Dheeraj Dhoopar on ‘Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa’: ‘If Required To Be Aggressive, I’ll Not Back Down’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Television actor Dheeraj Dhoopar, known for shows like “Sasural Simar Ka” and “Kundali Bhagya” is making his reality TV debut with “Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa.” After rejecting captive reality shows for years, Dhoopar took up this assignment because of his bond with Balaji Telefilms and for short-format content.

Related Stories

Sohail Khan On ‘Alliance’ Entry: ‘I Come From a Family Where Loyalty Isn’t Just a Word, It’s a Way of Life, But I Understand Rules Are Different Here’

‘The Alliance India’: Ravi Kishan, Awez Darbar, Ruhee Dosani Join the Reality Show (EXCLUSIVE)

There’s another important reason he turned down several offers in the past. “I never gave it a thought before, because I was shooting for other projects. Also, the format of the shows where one needs to be away from family for months, did not appeal to me. However, I wanted to start with something big and this happened. My whole perspective changed. I am very happy with the buzz around the show,” he exclusively tells Variety India.

He credits his wife, actress Vinny Arora for her support in reaching the decision. “Vinny is my wife, she manages my work and I am confident she will handle everything when I am away,” he shares. 

Show strategy-wise, Dhoopar reveals he does not believe in fighting just to grab some footage. However, if the competition gets stiff, he will step up his game. He asserts, “I am not someone who reacts at the drop of a hat. But if the game requires me to be aggressive I will not back down. I am sure I am going to have fun. This time, everyone will see the real Dheeraj.”

He agrees that reality TV is way more lucrative as compared to daily serials in the present scenario, saying, “The shelf life of fiction shows is unpredictable and short. This is why producers are hesitant to cast big names. If the show shuts shop in three months, it is a loss for them. Most daily soaps are offered to fresher faces but then the quality might suffer.”

Dheeraj Dhoopar also admits that when a TV star comes to a reality show on a big platform after delivering a couple of hit daily soaps, he can leverage a good fee for himself. “It is a win-win situation. Streaming platforms get engagement from the massive fanbases of TV stars while we also get a new OTT audience. It is beneficial for both parties. It is good to see top TV stars getting paid suitably by such reality shows,” he reflects.

The actor also spoke highly about the vertical content format, which is generating employment for technicians and actors. He opines,  “The payment structure there is also better when salary comes in after three days of shoot. Today, technicians are heavily booked due to microdramas. However, I saw some promos and found the content shady. Vertical format productions depend on the target audience that demands such content. But it is a great platform nonetheless.”

He stresses that he has no inhibitions as an actor, saying, “If a character demands something I am okay with it. However, it should be a requirement of the story and filmed in an aesthetic manner. If people just add kisses, then people start associating an actor with such content, which is not something I would prefer."

Dheeraj Dhoopar also spoke fondly about his bond with his “Kundali Bhagya co-star Shraddha Arya over the years. “She is a good friend of mine. When you work together for five to six years non-stop you build a family-like bond. When I joined ‘Kundali Bhagya,’ I had just got married. She has seen me become a father. I saw her get married and later embrace motherhood. Our bond as friends has grown with these milestones in life,” he says.