Actor Sshrey Pareek, who has been part of shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Qurbaan Hua, Love by Chance and Jhanak, is now stepping into Bollywood with Oye Chill Maar. After spending more than a decade building his career across television, Sshrey says he has become far more particular about the kind of roles he wants to take up.

Talking about how consciously he chooses his projects at this stage of his career, Sshrey says, “I am extremely conscious about the work I want to do. Choosing the right characters and roles is extremely important for me. Honestly, saying no to work is really, really hard when you come from a middle-class family and have to survive in the city. But I took this decision very early in my career and I am still standing by it.”

For Sshrey, the journey has also included phases where he consciously waited instead of immediately signing the next available project. Those breaks, he says, taught him some of the biggest lessons of his life. “Those breaks in between the shows, where I was waiting for the roles I wanted, taught me everything. I have seen people changing in those times. My friends, my colleagues and even relatives behaved differently. But I was firm and waited because I knew that I would prove myself. The time was brutal, but it made me a warrior,” he shares.

In an industry where actors often feel the pressure to keep working continuously, saying no can be a difficult decision, especially when a project offers financial security. However, Pareek says he has always held on to one belief. “It was actually very difficult when you know you’ll get good money and you’ll be secured in many ways. But I always had one thing in my mind: I want one opportunity, just one, and I’ll change everything. For me, art is the priority and it’ll be forever,” he says.

His definition of a good role has also changed with experience. While a lead role was once his primary goal, Sshrey now looks beyond the position of a character in the story. “Yes, of course, my understanding has changed. Initially, for me, a good role was always a lead role, no matter what the storyline was. Now, it is absolutely about the performing potential. I think now I want to do roles that are performance-oriented,” he explains.

His film Oye Chill Maar is also a project he considers a risk that was worth taking. The actor says he was drawn to the character despite the film being backed by a relatively new team. “There are newcomers, a newly experienced team and first-time producers. Working with them was kind of a risk, but I genuinely loved my character. I loved the honesty of the makers and the teamwork. I absolutely believe people will love the film and my work,” says Sshrey.

Waiting between projects can often be difficult for actors, but Pareek believes his passion for acting and the faith of his family have helped him navigate those uncertain periods. “I think my absolute passion for the art and patience towards it have nurtured me to deal with it easily. And, of course, the major one is the belief my parents have in me,” he says.

Looking back at his journey from television to his Bollywood debut, Sshrey feels that his current phase has been one of his biggest challenges. After more than 10 years in the industry, finally seeing himself on the big screen carries a different kind of responsibility. “I think the current phase is more challenging, where you have to find the role you want to do and take the responsibility of proving that your wait was worth it. It took me more than 10 years to crack 75 mm and see myself on it,” he says.

As he looks ahead, Sshrey is clear about what he wants from his upcoming projects. For him, the size of a role matters less than what the character and the story have to offer. “Content is the only thing I am looking for in my next project. I don’t mind doing a small role in projects where the content is amazing and my role has something substantially strong and gives me more to explore as an actor,” he concludes.