Akshay Oberoi And Simran Kaur Mundi: Vignesh Shetty Is A Pain In The A**

We at UrbanAsian recently met the cast of Hungama Play’s third web series – Bar Code. We got a chance to get up close and have an interesting chat with Akshay Oberoi, Karan Wahi, Parina Chopra and Simran Kaur Mundi.

Akshay-Oberoi-Simran-Kaur-Mundi-at-the-launch-of-Hungama-original-Bar-Code — Akshay Oberoi and Simran Kaur Mundi

Here are some excerpts from Akshay Oberoi And Simran Kaur Mundi’s conversation with us:

1. How did you’ll come abroad Bar Code?
Akshay: I got a call from Abhishek Pathak.

Simran: Me too. I got a call from him.

Akshay: We got a call from the producer – this is his first foray into web, he’s been known for really high quality commercial cinema. They are really sorted producers, you can always trust them. And then I met Vignesh Shetty – he is one man, a unique piece in this industry.

When I sat down in the chair to meet the man, he said “You look like Sahil Chopra – my character, but you don’t have the right posture for it”. The first statement wasn’t like “tum kya loge, paani le aao ya chao le aao” – it was ya you don’t have the right posture. So I knew I had to work with this guy because he will challenge me. That’s how I came on board.

Simran: So Vignesh (Shetty) had the requirement of a girl who – he clearly told Abhishek (Pathak) that he needs someone to play Riya who you can take…

Akshay: I want to answer it because it sounds better coming from someone else. I asked him who did you cast for Riya and he said it’s got to be this girl who’s a beautiful girl and you can also take her home to your mom. That was what he said. And he said I have somebody. He said her name and I said ya of course. I thought it sounds better coming from me.

Simran: When I met Vignesh for the first time, I was told this is the brief of the role, the character. I loved the role instantly, I thought it was something that was supremely challenging for me and I love challenges. I think this is what I’ve been waiting for.

2. How was it working with each other?
Akshay: I don’t think there were too many challenges, I think that the chemistry for me was…from the get-go it was there. I didn’t have to work on trying to fall in love with her, have a relationship with her, it was very organic it just happened. I think that’s a lot of credit to her and how she does her work and how relaxed she is. You don’t have to break any ice with Simran, jo hai who hai.

Simran: same with him also. I think we just clicked the minute we met. We were like, I didn’t even feel like I was meeting him for the first time. It was very organic and very normal. We instantly clicked so that’s the kind of comfort that shows on-screen.
Even though we (our characters) are going through ups and down in the entire series yet there is a connect. Even then we are still together, there’s an underline in our relationship on-screen., its cause we connect very well.

3. How was your working experience with your co-stars?
Akshay: You know, we don’t have a lot of work together. Yes, the show is built on this but most of my work is with her, a couple of people who work for my night club. In fact I think Karan and I have only two days of shoot together. When we actually come face to face. So I barely work with them. I did enjoy them as people when hang out but as co-stars we didn’t have much work together, we never interacted much.

4. How was it working with the director Vignesh Shetty?
Simran & Akshay: He is a task master

Akshay: He’s also one of those rare directors who has become my good friend, like he is one of the people I call at 3.

Simran: I do that too. I don’t call him at 3am but I do it too, I call him like during the day jab kuch problem hoti hai, kuch decision leni hai. I take his advice because he’s quite sorted like that.

Akshay: He got a really good head on his shoulders and he’s been in the industry for many years so ya. He knows the job but he is a real pain in the ass.

Simran: He’s a gem of a person but he is a pain in the ass.

Bar Code is written and directed by Vignesh Shetty and produced by Sanjeev Lamba, Abhishek Pathak, Neeraj Roy and Siddhartha Roy. All 10 episodes are now available on the Hungama Play app and its associated apps.