Iqbal Khan Yaadein: There was silence on the set… when Iqbal Khan was shooting the scene of son’s death.

Iqbal Khan Yaadein: The mist of memories, layers of pain and a slight light of hope… Sony SAB’s show Yaadein weaves these feelings beautifully. A story where lost memories become not just the past but also the reason for living. At the center of this emotional journey is Iqbal Khan, who in the character of Dr. Dev is deeply living the silent battle of a broken man and his attempt to stand up again. Let us know what is special about this character and why ‘Yaadein’ came close to his heart.

One character, many layers…in the words of Iqbal Khan

How is this character different from the roles you have played before?

I have played different types of characters, but the specialty of Dr Dev is his emotional depth. His emotional quotient is very high, he feels very deeply, but at the same time he is a down to earth and genuine person. He is extremely honest, but is not trapped in any artificial idealism. It’s this balance that excites me as an actor, because it gives me the opportunity to explore layers that I haven’t touched before.

Playing a character who goes through two different emotional phases is quite intense. How do you come out of that emotional space after the cameras are off?

Every actor has his own method. Emotional scenes are very tiring for me. Mental preparation is required to start the scene, but it is not easy to come out immediately after it is over. Those feelings last for a while, especially when the scene is very intense. But, changing the environment helps. As soon as the scene ends, the environment of the set changes and gradually you come back to yourself.

Was there a moment during shooting when you personally felt the emotional burden of your character’s story?

There is a scene in the beginning of the show, when Doctor Dev comes to know about the death of his son. That scene was very heavy. Not just me, the entire team was feeling that pain at that time. There was a strange silence on the set during the shooting. That scene affected me deeply and its emotional weight stayed with me for a long time.

Did playing the character of a doctor change your perspective towards real-life doctors?

“To some extent, yes, but I am already quite familiar with that world because there are many doctors in my family. My sisters and many of my relatives are associated with the medical field. So I have seen both the professional and emotional aspects.” He further says that playing the character of a doctor in the show further strengthened the point that doctors not only provide treatment but also bear a huge emotional burden.

Since the theme of the show is ‘Second Chance’, was there any moment in your life when you got a second chance?

Initially I did two films, but unfortunately both did not work. At that time I really felt that everything was over and there was nothing left to do professionally. I was very confused and could not understand what would happen next. That’s when I got my first television project, and that too with Sony. That show became a huge success and completely changed my career. For me it was a second chance. It was almost like a new beginning, which gave me confidence and a way to move forward again.

You are sharing the screen with Gulki, tell us about that experience and what she brings to the set as a co-actor?

It was great working with Gulki. She is a very capable and honest actress. What I like best is that our scenes are very collaborative, which makes the performance even better. There are so many emotions in the show that in such an environment, Gulki’s funny and lively nature relaxes everyone.