Paras Kalnawat experimented with a rugged, grey character to break free from his chocolate-boy image but found audiences preferred his familiar charm.
Versatility defines a true actor—but even talented performers can get typecast. For Paras Kalnawat, who once reigned as the quintessential chocolate-boy hero, this has been all too real. “Yes, looking at the image I carry, I have been offered similar roles a lot of times,” he admits.
Now, as Aditya Kashyap in Parineetii, he embraces a versatile and layered role that finally showcases his range.
In an effort to break the mold, Paras Kalnawat tried reinventing himself. He says, “I experimented with my look in between. I tried looking a little rugged and portraying myself as a grey and a negative boy, but I guess that didn’t cut it. People don’t want to see me like that.”
This rebranding experiment was born out of a desire to explore his range. “That was part of the process because I was on a break and I was experimenting on what all I could pull off,” Paras Kalnawat explains, adding, “But I guess people want to see me playing the similar roles because they have never seen me portraying a grey character or one with a darker side. I don’t blame the production teams or anybody whoever offers me similar roles because they haven’t seen me doing something other than that.”
Despite the initial setback, Paras Kalnawat remains upbeat, recognising it as part of the artistic journey. His persistence paid off when he landed the role of Aditya Kashyap in Parineetii, post its 20-year leap—a character that defies all his past portrayals. “This time, I have bagged a role which is different from all the characters I have played in the past,” he says.
Paras Kalnawat adds, “This is like an experimental role for me where I will be able to showcase a different side of me as an actor, maybe a versatile side of me where I can play with the character in many different possible ways.”
With Parineetii, Paras Kalnawat finally gets to stretch his craft, playing more than just the hero-next-door. His new character promises emotional depth, complexity, and unexpected twists—precisely the kind of creative freedom he has been seeking.
