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Actor Vikram Singh Chauhan discusses his journey from television to OTT and now films, emphasising emotional honesty and meaningful work.
Vikram Singh Chauhan to be soon seen in Pooja Meri Jaan.
Actor Vikram Singh Chauhan has explored different facets of the entertainment industry over the years, moving from television to OTT projects such as Sena: Guardians of the Nation, Raat Jawaan Hai, Baarish and Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. He is now set to appear as the male lead in Pooja Meri Jaan.
With streaming platforms opening up new avenues for storytelling, Chauhan believes that an actor’s approach must remain rooted in emotional honesty, irrespective of the medium. In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 Showsha, the actor reflects on how television shaped his craft, the creative possibilities offered by OTT and the challenges of being typecast in an industry that constantly demands reinvention. He also opens up about the pressure to stay relevant, the growing influence of social media and why meaningful work matters more than simply being visible. Read the full interview here:
Your career spans television and OTT projects like Sena: Guardians of the Nation, Raat Jawaan Hai, Baarish and Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. How different is your approach to acting when you move between these formats?
For me, the fundamental principle of acting remains the same, irrespective of the format you have to be emotionally truthful to the character you are portraying. However, the process and the demands of each medium can be quite different. Television teaches you discipline, spontaneity, and the ability to sustain a character over an extended period, often under demanding schedules. OTT, on the other hand, allows you to explore narratives with different rhythms, layered character arcs, and sometimes a more restrained style of storytelling. I don’t consciously change my approach just because I’m moving from one medium to another. Instead, I try to understand the world my character inhabits, his motivations, his contradictions, and the emotional landscape that shapes him. Every story has its own language, and I believe an actor must be sensitive enough to adapt without losing his authenticity. Ultimately, my responsibility is to serve the story and make the character believable, regardless of where the audience watches it.
Television gave you a certain kind of recognition, while OTT has opened up opportunities to explore different stories and characters. Do you feel your career has changed significantly with the rise of streaming platforms?
Absolutely. The emergence of streaming platforms has expanded the possibilities for actors in a very meaningful way. Television gave me recognition, a relationship with the audience, and the invaluable experience of understanding what it means to carry a character into people’s homes every day. I’m deeply grateful for that phase of my career because it shaped me as a performer and taught me the importance of consistency. With OTT, the storytelling landscape has become more diverse, allowing actors to explore unconventional narratives, morally complex characters, and situations that may not always follow traditional storytelling patterns. As an actor, that is exciting because it constantly challenges you to move beyond familiar territory. However, I don’t see television and OTT as competing mediums. Both have their own strengths and audiences. For me, the real change has been the expansion of creative possibilities. Today, I can look at a character and ask myself not which medium it belongs to, but whether the story has something compelling to say and whether I have something meaningful to contribute to it.
At A Glance
Actor Vikram Singh Chauhan has worked across both television and OTT projects including Sena: Guardians of the Nation, Raat Jawaan Hai, Baarish, and Rudra: The Edge of Darkness.
Chauhan is set to appear as the male lead in Pooja Meri Jaan.
The actor notes that television teaches discipline and spontaneity while streaming platforms offer diverse narratives and layered character arcs.
Chauhan believes that typecasting is a common industry reality that can be challenged through deliberate career choices and character exploration.
The actor emphasizes that long-term professional longevity relies on genuine performances and meaningful work rather than constant online visibility.
Television actors are sometimes stereotyped or typecast because of the characters they play on screen. Have you ever felt restricted by that image, and how did you work towards breaking out of it?
I think typecasting is a reality that actors across mediums encounter at some point. When an audience connects deeply with a particular character, they begin associating the actor with that personality, and while that affection is incredibly rewarding, it can sometimes influence how people perceive your range. I’ve always believed that the best way to challenge such perceptions is through your choices. As an actor, you cannot constantly be preoccupied with proving people wrong. You have to keep working on yourself, remain curious, and be willing to inhabit characters that challenge your existing sensibilities. Sometimes that means choosing a role that takes you into unfamiliar emotional territory; at other times, it means approaching a seemingly familiar character with a completely different perspective. I don’t look at my television journey as something I need to distance myself from. It is an integral part of who I am as an actor. Every experience has contributed to my understanding of the craft. Rather than rejecting the identity that audiences have given me, I want to build upon it and demonstrate, through my performances, that an actor’s possibilities are never limited to one image.
The entertainment industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with new actors and fresh talent entering the space every year. How do you deal with the pressure of staying relevant and finding meaningful work?
I think the pressure to stay relevant can become overwhelming if you allow external validation to determine how you perceive yourself. The industry is constantly evolving, new talent is emerging, audience preferences are changing, and the definition of success itself keeps shifting. In such an environment, I’ve realised that the only sustainable approach is to remain committed to your craft rather than become consumed by comparison. Of course, there are moments of uncertainty. Every actor experiences periods when things don’t move at the pace they had imagined. I’ve learnt to see those phases as opportunities for introspection rather than reasons to doubt myself. You can control the preparation you put into a role, the honesty you bring to your performance, and the willingness with which you approach new opportunities. You cannot control every outcome. For me, meaningful work is more important than simply being visible. I want to be part of stories that challenge me, introduce me to different facets of human behaviour, and leave me with something new to learn as a performer. If I continue to grow with every project, I believe relevance will follow more organically. At the end of the day, longevity in this profession comes from having something genuine to offer, not merely from occupying space.
Social media has become an important part of an actor’s public image. Do you feel actors today have to work equally hard on their online presence and their craft to remain visible?
Social media has certainly transformed the relationship between actors and their audiences. It has given us the opportunity to communicate directly with people who support our work, share glimpses of our lives, and express ourselves beyond the characters we portray on screen. I think that accessibility can be a wonderful thing when approached authentically. At the same time, I believe there is a distinction between visibility and the actual work an actor does. Social media can help people discover you, but it is your performances that ultimately create a lasting connection. An online presence might generate attention in the moment, but the craft is what gives that attention substance and longevity. I also feel that every actor has a different relationship with these platforms. Some are naturally expressive online, while others prefer to keep their lives more private. Neither approach should determine how seriously we take their work. Personally, I would rather focus on maintaining a genuine connection with my audience than feel compelled to participate in every trend. I respect the importance of digital visibility, but I don’t believe it should come at the cost of the very thing that brought us here in the first place, the love of acting and the commitment to telling stories honestly.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Vikram Singh Chauhan has worked on various streaming projects, including Sena: Guardians of the Nation, Raat Jawaan Hai, Baarish, and Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. He is also set to appear as the male lead in the upcoming film Pooja Meri Jaan.
Ask News18About the Author
Chirag Sehgal works as a Chief Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. He has a strong expertise in content creation, digital storytelling and social media strategy. Skilled in covering ce…Read More
October 14, 2026, 18:22 IST