Amar Upadhyay recalls, ‘I was not getting my dues in the industry before Mihir Virani happened’

Actor Amar Upadhyay aka Mihir Virani would remain one of the most iconic characters in the history of Indian television. And now that he is set to don the producer’s hat, the actor reveals that he had almost decided to quit the entertainment business if this character in Kyukii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi had not provided him with all the success he had hoped for.

“I was not getting my due in the industry in terms of fame before Mihir happened. I did not want to stay around for very long. I felt there was no point in being an actor if I didn’t experience the highest of highs. No one used to recognise me while I was walking on the street. Kyunki Saas… was supposed to be my last project. I thought to myself, ‘Agar yeh show kuch nahi karta mere liye, toh I will switch my profession and do something else’. But then destiny had other plans,” recounts the actor.

And when he got the show and people started to like his character, Upadhyay says he gave it his all to make it immensely popular.

“I used to shoot 17-18 hours a day without a break. As an actor, I did all kinds of research and learnt from people around. Till the last shot, I gave it my best. Today, when I look back, I can say that Mihir became what it is today because of my hard work. Even after 22 years, people call me by that name. For me, it was a god sent opportunity, as my life changed after that,” says the actor, expressing gratitude for all the work that came his way post the show and helped him taste more success.

While Upadhyay kept working on back-to-back projects and had a fulfilling acting journey, he gives the credit to an interview of Anupam Kher that he had read back then.

“Many many years ago, I read this interview where Anupam sir said, ‘One needs to keep his diary packed. You don’t have to increase your fees, you don’t need to use your success as a reason to ask for more work from people. You just have to keep working constantly.’ And I did that. I kept on working non-stop. May be, that’s why I managed to stay in this industry for so long,” concludes the actor, whose first production, Kyuki Tum Hi Ho, also features him in the lead role.