In an engaging chat with Mid-day, Ansh Chopra, who stars in the survival thriller ‘Tu Yaa Main’ directed by Bejoy Nambiar, shared delightful stories from the film set. He reflected on his strong bond with co-stars Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor, while also addressing the hot topic of nepotism in the film industry.
Renowned for his comedic talent on his Instagram page, Bigg Nerds, Ansh portrays Adarsh’s best friend and manager in the film. His journey to landing the role came after Bejoy discovered his entertaining content online.
Reflecting on set antics, Ansh described the fun atmosphere created by Adarsh and Shanaya, who made him feel at ease during their initial interactions. They also had the freedom to add their own flair to the scenes. “Bejoy sir was very open to improvisation. Whenever we proposed ideas, he encouraged us to go for it. We pulled off some hilarious pranks on set involving Shanaya, Adarsh, and Parul (Gulati),” he shared.
One memorable prank took place on Ansh’s first day. Shanaya and Adarsh playfully convinced him to greet director Bejoy Nambiar by touching his feet for blessings, which took Bejoy by surprise when Ansh followed through during his first take. Another time, Adarsh locked Ansh in his vanity van, prompting a frantic search by the crew.
Ansh recounted his revenge on the pranksters: “We were filming a scene with a crocodile behind Adarsh and Shanaya, who were focused on the narration. I snuck behind them and grabbed their legs, causing a hilarious scare as they thought it was the crocodile!”
Having started his career as a child actor, Ansh reminisced about his early days, including a cameo in ‘Love Sex aur Dhokha’ (2010) that never made it to the final cut. Despite challenges in landing significant roles, he turned to content creation, nurturing his passion for acting.
On the topic of nepotism, Ansh highlighted the unique journeys of each actor. While some may view Shanaya’s swift rise as unfair, he emphasized her dedication, mentioning her film school education and her role as an assistant director on ‘Gunjan Saxena.’ “Everyone has their own story and struggles,” he asserted, advocating for individual paths in the industry.