Mumbai: Ali Merchant has been a prominent figure in the television industry for an extended period. However, he had taken a break from television in recent years.
Now, making a comeback to acting, Merchant is set to make his debut on the digital platform with the series ‘Libaas,’ which he considers as the start of his “2.0 journey.”
Speaking about his return, Merchant shared, “It’s a wonderful feeling. I used to spend a lot of time on sets when I was involved in TV shows. Returning to the sets after this hiatus feels overwhelming, marking the initiation of my 2.0 phase in the entertainment industry.”
During his career, he delivered memorable performances in shows like ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai,’ ‘Lock Up,’ and ‘Bandini,’ among others.
During his break from acting, Merchant’s only appearance was in Kumar Sanu’s music video for the song ‘Dhuan.’ Now, he is all set to take the lead role alongside Nyra Banerjee in ‘Libaas.’
Discussing his role and the reason behind choosing this show for his web debut, he explained, “‘Libaas’ is the title of the web series, falling within the crime and chase thriller genre.”
Regarding his character, Merchant elaborated, “I play the main lead, Aditya Singh Ahlawat. My character is a laid-back Haryanvi police officer. The storyline revolves around the challenges that my character faces and his subsequent journey of resurgence.”
Merchant went on to explain the reasons for his acting hiatus, stating, “I wasn’t finding roles that excited me, and I was simultaneously focusing on my parallel career as a music producer and DJ. I believe there comes a time when one should focus on a single pursuit. I spent a lot of time traveling, honing my acting skills, immersing myself in regional travel experiences, and acquainting myself with diverse cultures and languages, all of which are now proving beneficial.”
He concluded by sharing, “When I initially received a call for the show, I didn’t take it very seriously, as I had turned down numerous TV show offers before, seeking opportunities beyond television. However, Nyra Banerjee met me one day and informed me about the show, mentioning her involvement as well. That sparked my interest, prompting me to contact the team, listen to the detailed storyline, and ultimately say yes.”
