Ruslaan Mumtaz started off his career with Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar in 2007. In no time, he became Bollywood's new chocolate boy who made young girls drool over his innocent looks. Since then, there is no stopping for Ruslaan. The actor didn't restrict himself to one platform and explored television and now, the digital space. Ruslaan will be seen in Netflix's Namaste Wahala, a Nollywood-Bollywood rom-com. It stars him with the Nigerian actress Ini Dima-Okojie. Not just this, Ruslaan has signed a series for the OTT platform, Digiflix TV. The show is titled The Perfect Script. 

Now, as Ruslaan is making the right noise across web, PeepingMoon got in touch with the actor. Talking to us, Ruslaan, who is the son of veteran actress Anjana Mumtaz, shared the reason behind signing The Perfect Script and whether he is planning to venture into mainstream Hollywood films after Namaste Wahala. He also spoke about how he is comfortable with his 'chocolate boy' image.

Excerpts from the interview:

What prompted you to sign The Perfect Script? 

Firstly, The Perfect Script was supposed to be a film directed by Partho Ghosh. He had contacted me around 2 years ago. Now, he decided to make it a web series.

Tell us a little about your role.

My character's name is Shekhar, a rich businessman. The series revolves around Madhu, her husband Rohit (Rajniesh Duggall) and Shekhar. I play Rohit's friend and the story is about the relationship these three people share. 

Namaste Wahala is your first international project. Do you aspire to venture into mainstream Hollywood films?

No, not at all. I had never thought about what kind of a project Namaste Wahala will turn out to be. I was offered the film a year ago and was told it will be about an Indian boy and an African girl. They informed that the film will be shot in Africa and will release for the African market. I agreed to do it because I wanted to try something different. Now, I got to know that it is a Netflix original that will release on Valentine's Day 2021. 

Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar made you a sensation. Were you offered similar roles later?

After Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar, all my projects have something similar. I've always been playing young characters. 

Will your web projects help you shed your chocolate boy image?

In Namaste Wahala, I play a chocolate boy only.  Getting out of this image is going to be really difficult. Honestly, I’ve never tried also. As an actor, I’ve accepted myself like this. I feel I’m better suited for such characters and I enjoy doing it too. You want to change your image when boredom sets in. But that’s never happened to me. I enjoy creating romance on camera.

Your mom, Anjana Mumtaz, is a renowned actress. Do you feel any pressure to live up to the expectations?

There was a time I felt the pressure. But eventually, I realised everybody has their own path. I have my own career to flourish.  After a point of time, the pressure eased down. I realised I am doing my own thing and my career isn’t over yet. With God’s grace, I keep getting work and opportunities. Nobody would have thought that I could get a Netflix original. Actors getting a Netflix original is a big deal. Our career is such that we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. As long as I keep working, I don’t know where my career will take me.  

Was she the one who encouraged you to pursue acting?

For many years, she discouraged me. I took up acting against her wish. She knows how tough the industry is. If you get work and you are successful, you reach another high. If you see failure, it can totally ruin you. That’s why she didn’t want me to act. Even if I’ve chosen this career against her wishes, I have done ‘okay’. I wouldn’t say that I have the greatest success story. But I haven’t been a failure also. I’m surviving, earning and living through the profession. 

You are a father now. Has parenthood changed you?

Actually, the lockdown changed a lot of things for me. Many actors committed suicide during the lockdown. That's when I realised what I was chasing all these years wasn’t what I needed. Since I was at home for many months, I couldn’t spend the money I earned. I was with my family, who mattered to me the most. I realised I already have everything like a shelter, vehicle, family and good health. Whatever else I was chasing has no meaning and value. This changed my thought process. 

After my son Rayaan was born, I was just going out for work. Otherwise, I’m still in lockdown with him. Socialising, partying, etc has died a natural death for me. 

With the emergence of web shows, is TV dying a slow death?

I think TV and the viewership of shows are affected. Every year, the TRP of shows is declining. In metros, there is a big change but I don’t know whether it is a pan-India change. 

You were replaced by Himanshu Malhotra in Nikki Aur Jadui Bubble...

I had signed Nikki Aur Jadui Bubble and it was to go on floors in December 2020. But it didn’t start on time. I had asked for 10 days off for The Perfect Script. Eventually, the dates clashed. There was nothing that anybody could do. The makers of The Perfect Script had brought Rajniesh and Rahul Dev on board and they stuck to their schedule. I had to choose one project so I went with the web project.