Harsh Chhaya Reveals Insights on Playing Papaji in Undekhi and His Memorable Chat with Legendary Writer Salim Khan

He also adds, “I feel there is a resistance. Even if some producers and directors have come to me with responsible parts and good screen time after Undekhi, somewhere along the line, there seem to be favorites in the business, and most do not move out of their set groups. But that’s usual. One can only hope there will be a change in the near future.”

Harsh was thrilled when he received praise from a great writer like Salim Khan for his role as Papaji. Sharing that experience, he says, “After the first season, I received a call from actor Arbaaz Khan, who appreciated my work. He mentioned that his father, Salim Khan, was so impressed that he wanted to congratulate me personally. The legend himself came on the line and spoke to me. He told me that one couldn’t deliver the kind of performance I did unless they knew such a person. I told him he was right—I’m from Delhi and have encountered similar people. Salim Khan then shared how the character of Soorma Bhopali was based on someone he had met in Bhopal. It was a warm, fulfilling conversation with Salim Khan.”

With his vast experience, Harsh also understands the changing dynamics of storytelling and audience engagement in this new era. He adds, “As the audience becomes more accustomed to international content, we’ll need to be increasingly competitive here, which might be a good thing. However, with shorter attention spans, it’s challenging to keep viewers engaged. An OTT series typically has a twist every five minutes. If this trend continues, it might impact certain storytelling styles.”