Exclusive - Bade Acche 2's Manraj Singh Sarma on cutting off his hair at 19: People called me a Sardar though it is a good thing but somewhere my identity was getting merged

Manraj Singh Sarma is currently seen playing the role of a negative lead in Bade Acche Lagte Hain season 2. The actor is receiving a lot of appreciation and love for the role. Recently, Manraj spoke to ETimes TV and shared how initially he was under pressure because of two big reasons. Firstly, Bade Acche's first season was already his mother's favourite and second, this role was offered to him by Ekta Kapoor herself and he didn't want to disappoint both the ladies. Manraj spoke about his journey from being a religious young Sikh boy to now a spiritual person. He also opened up about the rebellious decision of cutting his hair at the age of 19 and his mother's reaction to the same. Manraj further spoke about playing a homosexual in his debut show back in 2014. (Photo: Instagram)

Yes, when I joined the show I was under pressure because the first season was a huge hit. Also, it was my mother’s favourite show during season 1. Then, I got the show and it launched on her birthday, August 30th. So it is like a birthday gift from me to her. In fact, I had got this show around the 20th but I didn’t share with her. I made her switch on the TV set and she saw me on the show. Secondly, Ekta Kapoor ma’am gave me this role and it is a big thing for me. I owe my career to her because she gave me the first web series of her OTT app Romil and Jugal. From a homosexual character to now bringing back on TV to play the negative lead in Bade Acche Lagte Hain which is very challenging, I owe my career to her. She gave me this role and it is a little bit pressuring. I don’t want to disappoint these two women for sure. (Photo: Instagram)

Working with Nakuul has been great. Nakuul also has a theatre background just like me. We have a common connection because we have done our training with the same drama school. Obviously, he did it much before me. We both have been taught by the same teacher. He is a father now and he is really like Ram Kapoor to me in real life. He is a very responsible person in real life too. I am a little bearish and I like to be like that on sets as well to be in my character. But Nakuul has a very calm and soothing demeanour. It is really refreshing to work with him. (Photo: Instagram)

I am a Hotel Management graduate and was working in the Sales and Marketing department in Bangalore. I was a Sardar with a turban till I was 19-20 year old. I did the 4 year course from Bangalore in Hotel Management and during the training I had to work at a hotel for 6 months. While I was in college I realised that I am more spiritual than religious and I wanted to cut my hair. It was rebellious. It did not matter to me to be a certain way, the things that mattered to me was respecting everyone, humanity and being good. To grow my hair, to belong to a community, I didn't want to do that. I didn’t want to look a particular way. People never called me by my name Manraj. They always called me Sardar. It was a good thing but somewhere my identity was getting merged and it started hitting me.(Photo: Instagram)

One fine day, I told my mom that I am going to cut my hair. I have a younger brother who was also a Sardar at that time and he also cut his hair after me. I went and cut my hair on my birthday and I take these major decisions of life on my birthday. I cut my hair and wrote a letter to my mother. I didn’t have that strength to tell her face-to-face. She didn’t speak to me for 3 months after that and did not even send me pocket money. She was a principal at a school at that time. One day she came and had lunch with me. She didn’t ask me anything and started talking to me nicely. She told me you look nice. She never spoke to me after that about my hair. (Photo: Instagram)

I completed my hotel management course. A lot of people after the haircut would tell me that I looked like Karan Singh Grover because at that time Dill Mill Gayye would air. My college girls would especially tell me that I can be an actor. I had no idea how the industry works in Mumbai. I didn’t want to do modelling. Later, I got a job at a luxury retail store where I worked for 2/3 years. I felt I should work in theatre and I started doing it part time. Saturday and Sunday I started doing it in Bangalore. But I wanted to grow as it was more than a hobby. I applied for drama schools in Mumbai. I did all the research for 6 months. I did this along with my job. I was selected at Drama School Mumbai out of 800 students, I was amongst the 18 to be selected. The day I got selected I left my job. I called my mother to inform her that I am going to Mumbai to become an actor, she asked me if I was sure about switching the profession and I gave her a confident answer. She supported me and in 2014 I came to Mumbai. (Photo: Instagram)

When I was offered to play a homosexual character I was excited but at the same time I was very nervous. I was worried as I didn’t want to get written off by people after my debut show as I was playing a homosexual role. That time things and mindset was different in India. That time Article 377 was passed. Government has announced it is illegal. I was scared because of this legal thing and also because there were kissing scenes in the film and I didn’t know how they were going to shoot it. (Photo: Instagram)

The first thing I did was I called up my mother to take her advice. I told her I want to do it as I came here to become an actor and I don’t want to demean any character. My mom told me to go ahead and do it but make sure you don’t make it look like a caricature. I called my director and asked her how she’s going to shoot the kissing scenes as I didn’t want to look vulgar as India is not prepared for something like this. Nupur Asthana was the director, she told me my mother is 75-year-old and she is also going to watch the show. So I won’t make it anything vulgar. I was satisfied as Nupur ma’am handled the sensitivity of the topic very well. (Photo: Instagram)

A lot of people have recommended reality shows but I don’t know why I am never inclined towards it. I know reality shows are a great medium to get instant popularity but I don’t know why mere se Kabhi hua nahi. People have told me I should try for Splitsvilla or Roadies. If ever I do a reality show, I would like to try Khatron Ke Khiladi. I don’t know if Bigg Boss is my cup of tea and if I am prepared for it. But I also know out of sight is out of mind, so if I get offered I would definitely do it. KKK is on top of my list. I am an actor first so till the time I am getting good roles, I will do it. All these reality shows, social media are by products of being an actor. (Photo: Instagram)