New Delhi: Aashram ke karta dharta Bhopa Swami (played by Chandan Roy Sanyal) has returned with a darker and more mysterious personality. The persona of Bhopa Swami from the previous seasons has wowed the audiences, and his performance has received high appreciation throughout the series. 


Chandan Roy Sanyal’s character ‘Bhopa Swami’ is the right-hand man of Kashipur Waale Baba Nirala (played by Bobby Deol) and he never fails to show his devotion to the Aashram.


As was to be anticipated, the plot of Ek Badnaam... Aashram 3 revolves entirely around the sexual assaults and unlawful acts carried out by Baba Nirala. His opponents are compelled to conduct their activities in secret. 


In an interaction with ABP Live, Chandan Roy Sanyal spoke about his shooting experience, his role and a lot more about Ashram 3. Here are excerpts from the interview:


What can excite people the most in this season?


I think the excitement is already there because of the kind of appreciation the show got.


For Bhopa, I didn’t realise, it would become such a cult in the world of fiction narrated a character. Like, I remember when I did ‘Kaminey’, my role was called Mikhail and I remember Mikhail has become such a huge name as a character. And suddenly after 10 years, I realise Bhopa has become a name. So, it’s across the board, everyone is tickled by that one character. So, that excitement is there and it’s only growing. I think for a year, people have been asking when is Ashram 3 coming and now it’s come out. And it’s buzzing. 


What type of reactions are you expecting?


Actually, I am not expecting anything. Like today morning, I woke up and I like to lay in the unknown. I don’t want to think about all that.


What it is like to shoot a series, especially with Bobby Deol, Esha Gupta and others? How is shooting life in movies different than in web series? Can you differentiate how was your experience? 


So, actually, Prakash Jha being the filmmaker and he is known for such great piece of films and he has been making star-studded and big-budgeted films. So, he says “I am not creating this as a show. I shoot like I shoot a film.” 


With all those cast and thousands of people on the set. People were meeting every day, the cast was moving around and going out. So, I felt while shooting the show that I am actually on any regular Hindi film set because there is nothing bigger nothing smaller. It was like a proper Hindi film set.


Working with Esha Gupta, Bobby sir, and all my other actors - Aditi, Tridha, Sachin, Darshan. We were like one huge unit. On a given day, when the call time is in the morning, we used to have our breakfast together. And everybody is waiting for their turn to go on shoot. Everybody sitting in their makeup room and we all used to just sit there on the set and chill. In the makeup room ‘Hum moongfali khaa rahe hai, chai pe pee rhe hai’. 


We used to sit in one room. And, in winter, we used to shoot in winter, so it’s nice. We used to drink chai, eat pakora and ‘samosa and gupshup’. So, shooting Aashram was like one of the most humming experiences and all of them became great friends. In fact, all of us are meeting tonight to celebrate at an undisclosed location and you’ll know tomorrow morning.


Prakash Jha is a renowned director. Is he tough to work with?


He is tough in a good way. He is tough because he knows his craft, he knows that his cinema does too well. So, he has to be good enough to match up with his requirement. 


He has so much experience. So many years of expertise. He pays consciousness to every single detail. And I like that, he is a tough director which is good because he wants the best scene. So, I would say that he is a tough director and I really enjoyed it and I would love to work with him because he pushes you. 


Does any of Bhopa’s character traits transmit to you? 


No… The way characters have been written, luckily, it has not transferred to me. I would not like to kill someone or give a fly. The kind of act Bhopa does, I would never try to do all these to a woman or any human being or the kind of thing he is up to under Aashram. Since I am not that person. 


How did you prepare for the role?


I actually borrow a lot from imagination. Like, I don't like to pursue a character and go the hard way. The first rule… see when you say a doctor or an engineer or a doodhwala, you have a certain imagination for that… which is like a general imagination. So, when I say imagination, I try to break that mold. When I was playing the character ‘Bhopa’. Bhopa is supposed to be a very tough guy, tall and big voice and who overdoes everything. And also, when it comes to playing such roles, one could go wrong in doing a lot of it - raising your temper, overshow your authority in a room and you’re shouting. I said I will not do any of it and I told Prakash Ji also. 


Apart from Aashram, What other roles do you want to explore next?


Definitely, I really want to do some nice comedy. I want to make people laugh and I think I’ll be really great at it. I think I am very romantic. I want to shock the audience. I want an amazing romantic drama. Aur wo hoga! I am asking the universe... If you can hear me, please I want to do a comedy and a romantic role. 


The third season of Aashram is available to watch on MX Player.