Cineblues exclusive: Tanuj Virwani - We have become so addicted to social media that we are losing that ‘personal’ touch

Cineblues exclusive: Tanuj Virwani - We have become so addicted to social media that we are losing that ‘personal’ touch

Tanuj Virwani – the award-winning actor who ahs made a solid mark on OTT with ‘Code M’, ‘Inside Edge’, ‘Tandoor’ etc is flexing his muscles in rom com. Tanuj plays Nikhil an aspiring actor who falls in love with Suman via social media platform in ‘Lets Meet’ a touching love story which is released in theatres and getting favorable reviews from the audience and the media.

In a heart-to-heart conversation with Vishal Verma for Cineblues, Tanuj opens up about his role, the curse and boons of social media, the challenges a celebrity has to face on social media platforms and more.

Excerpts

Why ‘Lets Meet’

“As an actor you cannot hold yourself to one particular corner. Inside Edge, etc have been thrillers and I wanted to do something light hearted in the rom com genre. When I got the script of ‘Lets Meet’ it gave me the opportunity to flex my rom com muscles. In OTT thrillers there are other actors as well and I am beign lucky to team up with very talented seniors and be a part of the team. In ‘Lets Meet’ its me and Suman in the picture and things revolve around us and I was touched by the story”.

Your character

“I play Nikhil an aspiring actor who wants to make it big in the world arena. He is going through a routine unexciting phase and circumstances land him on a social media platform where he befriends Priya. And how they find solace in each other and since it’s a period where people are supposed to follow social distancing, their online bond gets stronger and an urge to meet develops. What happens next? I cannot reveal and for that you will have to watch the film. It’s a touching love story and there is purity in it.”

Communication tools and the way we express our feelings have evolved over the years, as a celebrity and as an individual, how you take this influence of social media in our life?

“In our film ‘Let’s Meet’ Love happens through social media, communication takes place via chats, previously if I go back to my school days then we use to exchange chits, then technology started evolving orkut etc where the initial platforms and then gradually we came to twitter, insta, whatts group etc. technology has its curse and boons but the matter of concern is the way people are getting hijacked by these click friendly attitude. We are not enjoying the moment. For example, if there is a birthday party going on, everybody will be busy taking pictures, shooting reels from their phone and uploading on social media, nobody is bothered to enjoy the moment. The ‘personal’ touch is missing. As a celebrity the social media helps in clearing doubts/rumours. For example, if here is any rumor floating against me, I can get back to the publication through social media platform and make my point and clear the doubts.

There is a community called trollers they create nightmare especially for public figures/celebrities 

"Yeah trolling, hatred is rampant on social media and as I said technology has its curse and boons, initially during the early stages of my career I was the target and couldn’t handle negativity, criticism but over the years, I have realized that its your work that counts and for a person it’s the opinion of five to fifteen (max) people who are very close to his/her life matters. I use social media smartly; I am not in that race of posting each and everything right from your morning breakfast to goodnight memes. By grace of God, I have a good base of followers and my social media account has grown organically. I don’t have a social media manager; I handle my social media on my own".   

Saif is very approachable and he is a ‘cool’ guy - Tanuj Virwani

Celebrities get targeted every now and then, Saif Ali Khan is the latest case, now a section of people are saying that the attack on Saif Ali Khan was a publicity stunt to gather maximum eye balls for his upcoming Netflix film ‘Jewel Theif: The Heist Begins’

"Haters will be haters, anyone who knows Saif Ali Khan will not believe in such ridiculous stories. Saif is very approachable and he is a ‘cool’ guy, he belongs to a respected family and Ibrahim is such a sweet boy, why would he indulge in such an act which is so risky exposing his wife and kids into danger. Whoever is coming with such theories are steeping very low and its in very poor taste".

 

My Mom is my biggest critique

You said opinion of very few people who are quite close to you matters, how much you value the opinion of your mother Rati Agnihotri

"My mother’s opinion matters me the most as far as my career is concern. She is my best critique and at times I also get scolded for things she has not find good enough".

 

‘Lets Meet’ is a pure love story.

Lets Meet’ is a love story and from the trailer interesting we have not seen you with Suman walking hand in hand, singing romantic numbers, how chemistry works in such scenario?

"Well in the trailer people have seen Nikhil and Priya chatting with each other and have not met, the ‘kick’ is how they meet and what happens and for that you will have to watch the film. There is a wonderful chemistry, chemistry which is not physical but emotional. Interestingly a situation from my real life helped me in understating the situation and getting better prepared. During the lockdown, I was not able to meet Tanya, we were not dating and confined to our houses. That time we shared an emotional chemistry, our heart and mind where connected and we use to feel each other. So, chemistry which from heart is more pious and as I said earlier ‘Lets Meet’ is a pure love story"