Everyone thinks they’re related to me, says Anuj Sachdeva

You’ve seen him in almost every single ad on TV for the last few months, and we’re sure you were dying to know what his name was. Well, presenting Anuj Sachdeva, the hottest and most in-demand model of the season. We caught up with the good-looking Punjabi munda, for a quick chat…

“My journey began in 2004, I was based out of Delhi then and helping out my father with his shoe business. We design shoes and handcraft them and I have trained professionally in the art. I also have my own line of stilettos called Ions, though my modelling career has forced me to push that option into the background,” opens Anuj as we catch him just out of a shoot.

Anuj has been offered films, but he has been very choosy about the projects he does and prefers to now focus on his TV career.

“While ads have made me famous, I’ve also done serials and I am currently shooting for a serial on Zee TV called Phir Subah Hogi. My career with television began a few years ago when I was cast in a role in Saabki Laadli Bebo, as Bebo’s husband. There has been no turning back since,” adds Anuj, smiling.

Was that the real start, we ask Anuj and he grins and replies, “Well, not really, the real start would have been Roadies 3, which is when I really made my debut on TV screens — it’s been a really long journey from there.” What about films, we quickly add, and he replies, “Films have always been my ultimate goal and I have been offered films from the very beginning, just that they often do not work out that well. Much earlier on in my career, I was offered a film by Deven Khote, but I decided to not take it on, as my role seemed insignificant. Later, there were offers from Madhur Bhandarkar and Anubhav Sinha, but both didn’t seem to work out.

I was recently offered a role in Anubhav Sinha’s next 3D project, but I guess I can’t talk too much about that right now. There was also a film with Yash Raj, but that didn’t seem to work out well either. I know it sounds like a lot of things haven’t worked out, but I am still positive. My ad career has boomeranged in the last few years and I am extremely happy with the way things are right now.”

Taking over the ad market and conquering serials, we ask Anuj what he has in store for us next. “I have a huge campaign that will soon hit TV screens and here I’m paired opposite Sunny Leone!” he exclaims. Keeping the mood going, we ask him about his experiences working with Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma in his earlier campaigns. “Awesome! Deepika is like the most energetic person you’ll ever meet. Her eyes, man! So full of energy — she’s a lot of fun. Anushka is amazing too, but the one word that would suffice to define her work ethic and personality — talented. She’s one talented girl and very professional,” Anuj indulges us, looking exuberant, almost in awe of the two beauties.

With looks like his, our next question is more than apparent. How do you deal with all the attention, we ask him. “They say any attention is good attention and it feels really nice to be recognised anywhere I go. What’s funny is how everyone thinks they’re related to me, because they know my face, but can’t place where they’ve seen me. I’m happy that they accept me into their families so readily, but being asked if I’m related, more than once, can get a bit freaky,” he answers and bursts into a hearty laugh.

With almost all our questions done, we decide to let Anuj get back to his shoot and ask him our last question — Who is your favourite actor and why?

“Kamal Hassan without comparison — that man is just incomparable. Sadma and Pushpak are my favourite movies of all time. I would die to do one of those films — they’re out of this world. I also look up to Naseeruddin Shah a lot, partly because he resembles my father, but also because he’s such an amazing actor,” he replies and we’re forced to add an extra question — so will you be open to working in the South? Pat comes the reply.

“Why not? The industries there are super famous for their talent, why would I refuse a good role anywhere?” Anuj concludes.