Lucky to have learnt under Prakash Jha, says Aashram actor Rajeev Siddhartha

In the MX Player series Aashram, Rajeev Siddhartha plays Akki, a journalist who helps Pammi (Aditi Pohankar) steer clear of the evil Baba Nirala (Bobby Deol) and his men with the hope that she exposes him.

The actor said in a statement, “I play the role of a journalist, a selfless human being who stands up for people who are exploited, for people who cannot fight for themselves. In seasons one and two, you see Akki realize how terrible Baba Nirala’s operations are and how he's exploiting people in the ashram, especially women. Akki launches an investigation to expose Baba. Simultaneously, he gets close to Pammi as he wants to rescue her from Baba's clutches.” 

Although both Akki and Pammi are a part of the same mission, there are major differences in their characters. “My character is more circumspect while Pammi’s is slightly impulsive,” said Siddhartha. “Akki is the centred guy, someone who wants to plan and make sure efforts don’t go to waste. He acts as a perfect sounding board for Pammi’s character. Akki’s and Pammi’s scenes are full of stillness and pauses. There is a lot of breathing space. We have been fortunate to be given those scenes by our director.”

Siddhartha felt it was fantastic working under the directorship of someone like Prakash Jha. “As the captain of the ship, he is so secure and confident about his craft and storytelling that the rest was taken care of,” he said. “There are a lot of admirable qualities in him — the way he handles projects on a huge scale and how he provides the right atmosphere for actors to deliver honestly in the scenes. I have been lucky to learn under his guidance and direction through all three seasons.” 

The actor will next be seen in the third season of Four More Shots Please!