“Sat Down And Drafted Lectures”: Shagun Pandey On Getting Into Character As Ved In Saru
To bring realism to his portrayal of an English professor, Shagun Pandey developed his own classroom lectures to engage viewers and bring more authenticity to the role.
Shagun Pandey, who rose to fame through his appearance on MTV Splitsvilla 11, is earning praise for his current role in Zee TV’s daily soap Saru. The show, which stars Mohak Matkar as the female lead, features Shagun as Ved—a calm, reflective English lecturer. The show, which premiered on May 12, tells the story of a young woman from a small town who dares to dream big.
Few know the level of effort Shagun has invested in playing this character. He revealed that the role demanded deliberate adjustments in his tone, posture, and overall demeanor. Taking his commitment a step further, he even composed and wrote his own lectures to ensure they were both educational and engaging for the audience.
“As soon as I learned that Ved is an English lecturer, I knew this character would be completely different from anything I had done before. My past roles mostly involved emotional family scenes, but Ved had to teach a class and build a quiet connection with his students. That meant I had to study, quite literally,” Shagun Pandey shared in a chat with Etimes.
The 28-year-old actor called the experience of playing Ved “insightful” and “fulfilling.” “I didn’t want to just recite my lines—I wanted the classroom moments to feel genuine, as if someone could actually learn from them. So I sat down and put together concise and meaningful lectures, choosing topics and delivery methods that were easy to understand yet impactful,” he explained.
Shagun added that he took inspiration from teachers he had during his own school days, consulted people close to him, and did a lot of reading to fully immerse himself in the role. “I sincerely hope I’ve done the character justice and that the audience truly connects with Ved,” the actor said.
Shagun has appeared in various television dramas, including Mera Balam Thanedaar, in which he played an IPS officer. He has also been part of shows like Tujhse Hai Raabta, Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod Aaye, and Meet.
