Exclusive - Jamai No. 1 actor Abhishek Malik: Today audiences are drawn to characters who are unpredictable, who make mistakes, or unexpected reactions

Time of India

16 hours ago

Abhishek Malik, who plays Neel in Prateek Sharma and Parth Shah's Jamai No. 1, believes that audiences today are no longer satisfied with picture-perfect characters. According to him, storytelling on television is undergoing a major shift, and the change is being driven by viewers themselves.
'Gone are the days when the hero had to be flawless, always doing the right thing at the right time. Today's audience wants authenticity. They're drawn to characters who are unpredictable, who make mistakes, and who have odd habits or unexpected reactions. These kinds of roles bring a sense of realism and relatability,' he says.
He adds that this evolution allows actors to dig deeper. 'As actors, it gives us a wider spectrum to explore emotionally and dramatically.
Personally, I love playing characters who aren't afraid to break the mold or challenge stereotypes—it keeps the performance exciting and the audience guessing.'
Abhishek feels that the audience has become more receptive to emotionally layered characters because they themselves have become more emotionally intelligent. 'They don't just want surface-level entertainment; they want to understand what a character is going through.
It's no longer about black-and-white characters—audiences are embracing the grey, the layered, the vulnerable,' he explains.
'In a fast-paced world that often feels overwhelming, audiences are drawn to stories that can strike an emotional chord while also offering some thoughtful escapism. That balance—between light-heartedness and emotional truth—is what really resonates,' he adds.
Speaking about the show, he says Jamai No.
1 is rooted in the changing dynamics of modern Indian families. 'Indian families today are evolving. There's a shift in gender roles, power equations, and generational perspectives. The jamai, who was once seen as a pampered outsider, now finds himself navigating a household of strong, opinionated women—with humility and presence,' he shares.
'Our show captures that transformation. It reflects the chaos, affection, ego clashes, and those unpredictable moments that define contemporary family life.
It's not your conventional drama—it's layered, sharp, and speaks the language of today's viewers.'
Having witnessed the evolution of Indian television over the years, Abhishek observes that the landscape is more dynamic than ever. 'Television has always adapted, but lately we've seen a major shift. Audiences are now looking for content that challenges the norm. Jamai No. 1 taps into that wave—it takes the familiar family setting and infuses it with satire, emotional depth, and a fresh point of view.'
'The show celebrates today's sensibilities—where control is shared, where women lead with unapologetic strength, and where drama comes from genuine emotion, not exaggeration,' he concludes.
Muskuraane Ki Vajah Tum Ho actor Abhishek Malik shows his last clicked selfie on his phone