20 August,2023 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Tanuj Virwani
He is the poster boy of digital entertainment. Tanuj Virwani started his OTT stint with the Emmy-nominated series, Inside Edge, in 2017 and has done over 16 shows since then. "Streaming has given me a new lease of life. I had always wanted to be a big-screen actor, but then my career panned out differently. Inside Edge taught me that actors are just actors across formats and screens. My career has coincided with the growth of OTT. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I love long-format storytelling; it gives a lot more scenes to graph your character," says the actor, who is gearing up for the release of his next series, Bajao.
The Shiva Varma and Saptaraj Chakraborty-directed series traces the adventures of three young men as they navigate the trials of achieving success and surviving in the Punjabi music scene, set in Delhi. "I didn't know much about the independent music scene," shares Virwani, who plays the character of Ved, adding that the JioCinema series throws light on the talent, underbelly, and hardships of Punjabi rappers. The actor credits the directors and writers for preparing him for the role. "They walked me through the landscape and guided me well. Sahil Vaid and Sahil Khatter have more knowledge of North India than me, who is a complete Mumbai boy. They transformed me from a classic Sobo boy to a South Delhi boy," says Virwani. The actor also credits Raftaar, who is making his acting debut with the series, for being the cool guy on set. "He brought a lot of pain, rawness, and depth to the character. He is the beating heart of the show. He had to shed all his inhibitions and go out there. My most memorable scenes are all with him."
