Himanshu Malhotra on replacing friend Ruslaan Mumtaz in a TV show: I had no idea that I was replacing him. We laughed about it

Earlier, we had exclusively reported about Himanshu Malhotra stepping into Ruslaan Mumtaz’s shoes to play Shiv in ‘Nikki Aur Jadui Bubble’. The latter had to opt out of the show owing to date issues. In an exclusive chat with BT, Himanshu admitted that he had no idea he was replacing another artiste when he signed on the dotted line.
He said, “Honestly, I had no inkling that I was replacing someone. I learnt about it a day after I signed the contract.That’s when I spoke to Ruslaan since he’s a very good friend. We laughed about it. Apparently, his dates clashed as he had already signed another project. While I am happy to step into his shoes, I intend to play the part in my own way. I will have a different approach for the character.”
The fact that he is getting to play a magician turned out to be the deal maker for Himanshu, who was last seen in ‘Dil Jaise Dhadke… Dhadakne Do’. He added, “I have never played a magician. Besides, it’s a positive and insightful role, which fascinated me. As a child, I would be extremely curious about magic. I remember watching magic shows during Diwali or at functions in my school. They would leave me mesmerised and tongue-tied. I would always wonder how they managed to perform all those tricks.”
While it’s the part that prompted him to take up the offer, was he apprehensive about playing father to a nine-year-old? “Not really. I love kids, I have a lot of affection for them, which I’m sure will translate onto screen. I remember when I was doing ‘Aapki Antara’ years ago, in which I played Sameer uncle to child artiste Zaynah Vastani. She would often write ‘Sameer uncle, I love you. Don’t tell mamma’ on a piece of paper and give it to me (laughs!). How much purer and organic can it get than this? I will always cherish those moments. So, I am looking forward to a new opportunity of exploring the actor in me and bonding with the kids both on and off screen, while enjoying playing a magician,” he replied.