Actor Ssanjay Gaggnani, of Kundali Bhagya and Bairi Piya fame, is no stranger to Lucknow. In the city recently for a long shooting schedule of an upcoming web project, the television star speaks candidly about his connection with the city, his journey in the industry, and the lessons he has learned along the way. “This is my seventh or the eighth visit here in a span of four years,” he says, adding that his current schedule has made the city feel more personal than ever. “Right now, it’s almost more than a month. So, it’s starting to feel like home.”
A taste of Lucknow: Ssanjay can’t resist city’s famous basket chaat
Clearly taken by Lucknow’s charm, Ssanjay is particularly fond of its open spaces. “What I loved the most about Lucknow is the parks. I went to Janeshwar Mishra Park which is huge. I’ve never seen such a huge park in the middle of a city,” he says, recalling his cycling trips and even boating at the park’s lake. “There’s so much space here, good infrastructure and not a lot of garbage.”
Ssanjay Gaggnani in Lucknow
But what stands out most for him is the warmth of the people. “The people here are so warm-hearted, wherever we go, there’s a lot of love. First of all, they ask us what we want to eat. ‘Will you eat chaat? Will you eat kebabs?’ I think it’s unmatched in the name of hospitality.”During his stay, the actor has explored the city extensively—from Hanuman Setu to Indira Dam—and indulged in its culinary offerings. “I tried everything, small chaat shops also which are not very popular, but the taste is amazing,” he says.
Ssanjay Gaggnani at Gomti River Front in Lucknow
Ssanjay is currently shooting for a web show titled Hotspot, though details remain under wraps. “The story is based in Lucknow… the makers wanted to make the entire project look as real, raw, organic as possible. In one sentence, my character is a larger-than-life one and yes, larger-than-life characters are rich people only,” he says with a laugh.Born in Gujarat and raised in a business family, Ssanjay’s entry into acting was a conscious choice. “When I told my family I wanted to become an actor, people used to say you will get cast only in Ekta Kapoor shows and I didn’t understand why,” he recalls. “But I got my first show with Ekta Kapoor ma’am only.” That marked the beginning of a long association with television, a medium he credits for shaping him as an actor. “The kind of experience television has given me is unmatched. I didn’t have any formal training in acting when I started. Television taught me everything practically.”However, like many in the industry, he acknowledges the challenges that have emerged post-pandemic. “Monetary issue is a big issue, the budgets have gone for a toss,” he says. Yet, he remains philosophical. “Such is life as it’s uncertain. Trends keep changing. My mindset is simple that one should keep doing good work. When the project is going to be a blast, it will be a blast.” He also points to the shifting landscape of entertainment. “When OTT started, there was a craze however today there is saturation. But now people are going back to theaters and good content will always work.”The actor is equally candid about financial lessons learned the hard way. “When I was doing my last show for six years, I didn’t invest anything and that was my biggest mistake or rather my biggest lesson,” he admits. “If you are earning 100 rupees, invest 70. I didn’t do that. I enjoyed… bought a luxury car. But now I urge the young aspiring actors that whatever you earn, at least invest half of it. Life is very uncertain and there is no surety about anything.“On the personal front, Ssanjay dismisses recent rumors about rift in his marriage to actor Poonam Preet. “It was just rumours,” he clarifies. “We were sitting at home, looking at each other and laughing, we thought let people say what they want. When they get tired, we will come out together—and that’s what we did.”Ask him about plans of extending the family and he says, “I have surrendered entirely, whatever is happening, it is happening as per God’s plan. Do I see myself as a father? Why not?”
