Would love to do a romantic comedy: Purab Kohli

NEW DELHI: After a spate of intense thrillers, actor Purab Kohli says he would love to star in a mature romantic comedy.

Best known for popular 1998 school drama "Hip Hip Hurray" as well as films such as "My Brother... Nikhil", "Rock On!" and "Turning 30" as well as international series "Sense8" and Hollywood movie "The Matrix: Resurrections", Kohli will next be seen in the mystery thriller web series "36 Days".

Recently, the actor has starred in "Blind", "London Files", "Bob Biswas", and "London Confidential", all thrillers across different mediums.

"I would love to do a romantic comedy... A mature romantic comedy is something I would really like to do. I always wanted to do that and I haven't had the opportunity. I feel a nice romantic comedy is something I would really be interested in," Kohli told PTI in a virtual interview from London.

"36 Days" is a 36-day journey to the fateful moment that upends the lives of Goa's Casa De Magnolia residents.

"An enigmatic woman's arrival in a seemingly idyllic housing estate in Goa threatens to expose the residents' darkest secrets. As they clamour to unravel her mysteries, all their lies and hidden identities begin destroying them, culminating in absolute horror," the makers said.

Produced by Sony LIV in association with BBC Studios India, "36 Days" is directed by Vishal Furia. It is a remake of the Welsh noir "35 Days".

In the series, Kohli plays Hrishikesh Jaykar, one of the residents of Casa De Magnolia.

The Mumbai-born actor said he was earlier offered another part on the show but as he didn't have the dates at the time, he decided to say no to the project.

As the shooting of "36 Days" was pushed, a slot opened up in his schedule and he joined the series albeit in a different role.

"The good thing about the BBC is that they always get shows that have been produced already internationally. A lot of very intelligent writing minds have put in a lot of hours in creating these properties or stories that can be retold around the world and what if they make the same show in China, America or India. So, it's a no brainer when something comes from them. You know it's going to be good and a nicely written show," he said.

Fronted by Neha Sharma, "36 Days" also stars Amruta Khanvilkar, Sharib Hashmi, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Shruti Seth, and Sushant Divgikar.

Kohli said all characters in the show have their own backstories.

"The right thing to do is you cast such good actors and give them something nice to do with every character. Everybody on the show has done quite a lot and it's a really colourful sort of cast and good actors.

"I feel everybody is being used beautifully and everybody is sort of linked to the main story in some way or the other and through that link you uncover the mess, the secrets, the complexities that are existing in each individual household as you go along," he added.

From modelling, acting across mediums, hosting shows, and participating in reality TV series, the 45-year-old has done pretty much everything in his over 20 year-career.

But his first job was as a cleaner at his house when he was barely 12.

"My mother bought a vacuum cleaner in the house and I just loved using it. It was so cool. I really wanted to use it so then I found a way to go to all my aunties and uncles’ houses for Rs 10-Rs 20 just to vacuum clean their house. That was the first job I did," he recalled.

Kohli said he enjoys working in the field he is in and would like to gradually shift to behind-the-camera duties. A few years ago, he directed a music video on the National Anthem.

"I really love the medium... I need to be in something that is creative... Right now, I am enjoying writing. I don't have anything that is published or being made into something. But, I am writing a screenplay and I feel that would be the next sort of gradual step... I would move towards writing and directing."