I auditioned for UP 65 and had totally forgotten about it, says Shine Pandey | EXCLUSIVE

True to his name, Shine Pandey, today is a ‘shining’ star on the horizon. Even though he has done his schooling from a foreign land, deep down, he is every inch a desi munda at heart. These days, he has been the topic of may discussions, courtesy his flawless acting prowess which he had demonstrated in the series ‘UP 65’.

OTTplay caught up with the actor for an exclusive interview

I had auditioned and had forgotten about it completely!
I had auditioned and I had forgotten about it. It took me three months. I was lying on my bed and figuring out for my plans for the next year. Then, I got a call from the production company of the show on December 3, 2021, and I was asked if I was available for a few months. Initially, I just could not understand anything. And when I asked what was it for, they said, ‘UP 65’. It took me a while to recall that name and realised that I had auditioned for it.

My first reaction when I got selected was…
Actually, even in my daily life, it really takes time for me to build up the reality within me. This time too, it was no different. It took some time for me to gulp the news. But, once I realised it totally, I was on seventh heaven. I just could not have asked for anything more.

When I saw myself on the screen for the first time in front of your friends and family...
Oh! That moment was Totally surreal. This was the first time when all my family members, my friends and rest of my gang saw me on the screen. The whole experience was totally overwhelming.

Do I relate to my character in UP 65…
Well… the character Nishant that I played in UP65 hails from Kanpur. He is totally shy and innocent. He has been raised by mom and dad. He does not have too many friends. He has not experienced anything that a teenager does. He has just cleared his IIT and has come to Benares. He is just exploring things around like a teenage boy. Now… you tell me, how much do I look or resemble the character that I played in UP 65! (laughs). I am a very different personality from Nishant. In the hostel, I was totally opposite of what Nishant is all about.

Working on Nishant’s traits and characteristics…
I really had to had to work a lot to get Nishant’s traits and characteristics right. I can tell you one thing though, in my real life, I too, had got trained to appear for IIT. I did appear for JEE.

Future plans…
You know what! If I look back say around five years from today to see where I was and what I was doing, I just did not even have a faintest of idea that, after 5 years, that I will be acting and stuff. Everything is so, so surreal. That’s why I take each day as it comes. But I am truly grateful for everything that is happening and everyone who have always stood by me and believed in me.