Nothing can replace acting in my life: Anup Soni

Anup Soni’s career has spanned television, films, theatre and now OTT platforms. From roles in serials like Balika Vadhu and Shraddha to becoming a household name as the host of Crime Patrol for over a decade, he has constantly tried to reinvent himself.Looking back at his journey, Anup admits that while hosting was rewarding, his first love remains acting. “I totally enjoy hosting for Crime Patrol. But, nothing can replace acting in my life. That will always be my passion, my priority. I might do 20 other things, but my acting assignments will remain at the top,” he says talking to Mumbai Mirror.The actor is also conscious about not being boxed in. “If people don’t consider you or look at you differently, you should make them see it,” he asserts.

To break the mould, he turned to theatre and produced his own play. “I wanted to do comedy, so last year I acted and produced a play, My Wife’s 8th Vachan.”It has been nearly a decade since his last television fiction show, Ji Sirji! in 2015. Anup explains the reason behind this distance. “It’s not that I have any inhibitions about doing television. I’ve done that, and I’ve enjoyed the popularity. But if I do a television show today, I’m wearing the same costume, working with the same set of actors for two or three years.

I’m not growing. I need to grow.”That growth, he believes, comes from variety. “Now, if OTT is there, movies are there, independent cinema is there, I want to explore that. I do one project, play a particular character, work with a different set of actors and a different director, then move on. That exchange helps me grow. Every four months, I get to do something new,” he says.