‘Bada Naam Karenge’ actor Ritik Ghanshani says he ‘always wanted to be a Rajshri hero’: ‘If a sequel is ever made, I would love to play Shahid Kapoor’s role in Vivaah’ – Exclusive |

From a small-town dreamer to winning hearts with Bada Naam Karenge, Ritik Ghanshani is on cloud nine! With glowing reviews and overwhelming love pouring in, he sits down with ETimes to share his journey, on-set memories, and the special bond he shares with his co-stars. Excerpts…
‘Bada Naam Karenge’ has received positive reviews from all sides. How does it feel?
Of course, it’s overwhelming, and I am extremely happy. When you make something with honesty and hard work, you want it to be received well. Looking at the numbers and the reviews, it is extremely overwhelming for me, especially because I come from a small city. Having a dream to be an actor is not that common—it’s quite unusual—and then pursuing it is another story. So for me, coming from that place and reaching this stage, seeing the numbers and the reviews, is a very special feeling. Right now, all I can say is that I am extremely happy, and I want them to keep coming.
What drew you to the project?
In terms of characterisation, it became quite easy for me because there were a lot of similarities between Rishabh and Ritik. Rishabh was brought up in a joint family, and I was also raised in a joint family. We both come from small cities in Madhya Pradesh. So there were quite a lot of similarities, not just in background but also in terms of emotional intelligence. Since I was raised by three women—my mom and my two elder sisters—it was easy for me to relate to Rishabh, his emotional intelligence, and his understanding of the world. He was always respectful towards elders, but at the same time, when he had to stand up for women or for his partner, he did that. So I think it became quite easy. Also, a lot of credit goes to my director and Sooraj Barjatya sir—because of his mentorship, everything became a lot smoother for me.
What is the biggest compliment you have received so far for your performance in the series?
While we were shooting the series, I was performing alongside such legendary actors, which made me nervous at times. There’s this confrontational scene right at the end, the climax scene where I confront all my elders. That scene was 18 minutes long, and the director and I decided we wanted to do it in one shot—we didn’t want any cuts in between. And the moment it happened, it turned magical. It was completed in just one take, and everyone started clapping. All the senior actors were clapping, hugging me, and consoling me because, by the end of it, I was crying—legit crying, extremely hard. So I got a lot of appreciation right there while performing. Getting appreciated by such legendary actors, such veterans, was a huge thing for me. But I think the biggest compliment for me was when my dad told me he was proud of me after watching the series. That, for me, has to be the most special compliment.
What’s been the most memorable or fun moment on the sets of ‘Bada Naam Karenge’?
So many things! First, it was Rajshri Productions, and I have always been a Rajshri fan. The first film I watched in a theatre was Vivaah, and my mom wanted me to be a lot like Prem from Vivaah. I think Sooraj sir introduced the ‘green flag’ concept even before it was a thing! So, yeah, Rajshri has had an impact on my life since then, and I have always wanted to be a Rajshri hero—the kind that’s liked by all the dadis, nanis, and aunties. So when this project came up, it was something I truly wanted to do.
Then, there was the director, Palash Vaswani. I had seen his series Gullak, and I had always wanted to work with him. I relate to him on so many levels—he also comes from a small city, he tells those stories in a relatable way, and his storytelling is so natural. So that was another reason I was excited. And then, of course, the character and the story—when I read the script, I was mesmerized. Getting to do this project was a blessing for me.
As for fun moments, even though I was shooting with senior actors, we had so much fun. It was a long 80-day schedule, but it was an extremely smooth ride. During the second schedule in Indore, we had night shifts for about 10 days straight. Every morning, we would pack up feeling exhausted. Naturally, you’d think that after long hours, everyone would just go back to their rooms and sleep, but no—we would all jump into the hotel pool together, play games, and have fun. After that, i would go and play table tennis with Kanwaljit Singh sir—the most senior actor on set, yet the most energetic and entertaining one.
Even before heading to the shoot in the evening, we’d hit the gym, and I would always find Kanwaljit sir, Jameel sir, and Rajesh sir there. It was a great mix of entertaining and fun-loving people, and we had countless memorable moments together.
In ‘Bada Naam Karenge,’ you play alongside Ayesha Kaduskar. Can you share a bit about the chemistry between you two? What was it like working with her?
When I mentioned working with senior actors, I included Ayesha as well—even though she’s my age, she’s a senior in the industry. She’s been working since she was a child, and it’s been nearly two decades for her, if I am not wrong. I learned so much from her.
We had an eight-day workshop that helped us get to know each other, but honestly, our chemistry was there from day one. The first time we met was during the second round of auditions, where we were both shortlisted. We performed the scene together—that was fine—but then came the photoshoot. We had just met, and suddenly, we had to pose together, holding hands and striking romantic poses. It was awkward, no doubt! But somehow, we didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. We were quite at ease with each other, and the pictures actually turned out great. They’ve been uploaded recently, and people seem to love them.
Throughout the shoot, we always had each other’s backs. There were so many scenes where I carried most of the dialogues, but Ayesha remained just as present in the scene as I was. Her expressions, her emotions—they made my performance better. She was completely invested, and that, in turn, helped me reciprocate better. She has been a great support, and our chemistry has been organic from the very beginning.
Tell us about your experience working with Rajshri Productions. It’s a dream come true for many actors. How was it for you, and what was your biggest takeaway from working with them?
Of course, it’s a dream come true. As I mentioned before, I have always wanted to be a Rajshri hero. And I am not saying I wanted to be an actor because when I was that young, I didn’t know what acting was. I didn’t know the craft. All I wanted to become was a hero.
Even in my class, when my teacher would ask us what we wanted to be, someone would say soldier, and people would clap. Someone would say scientist, astronaut, and people would clap. And then I would get up and say hero, and people would laugh. The impact of Rajshri films was such that I wanted to be a hero like Prem. I had seen Vivaah, Maine Pyaar Kiya, and I wanted to be that green flag. The impact started with Vivaah because that was the first film I watched in theatres.
When I got the opportunity to work with Sooraj sir and his production, it was a dream come true. But it was an even bigger moment for my family. When they found out I had been selected, they were on cloud nine. My mom was crying, my dad was so proud and happy. That’s when I truly understood the gravity of it—when I saw their reaction. For me, it was just something good happening, but their response made me realize something great had happened.
My biggest takeaway would be humility. I think Sooraj sir is the definition of it. From the moment I first met him, he made me feel like the most important person in the room. The way he interacts with people, you would never feel like you’re meeting such a legendary figure. He is so humble, so down to earth, and his presence is incredibly calming. I believe that’s one of the biggest reasons he has sustained for so many years. Making a name in the industry is one thing, but sustaining it for so long is something else. His humility, along with his craft, is what makes him truly special. That is something I will always carry with me.
If you get a chance to star in a remake or sequel of a Sooraj Barjatya film, which one would you pick and why?
As I mentioned, Vivaah is my favorite film, and if a sequel is ever made, I would love to play Prem in Vivaah.