Barun Sobti always believed in pushing his boundaries as an actor. That is why, at the peak of his career in television, he quit the medium to find work that spoke to him. It was a decision he knew could make or break him. Since then, his journey has been gruelling, with several years of no work and sporadic releases. But 2023 seems like his year as he was seen in the second instalment of Asur and the rom-com Badtameez Dil and the Netflix series, Kohrra. Sobti believes it is his ability to say no that has gotten him so far.

“I had to make a few tough decisions in my life. Sitting back and not doing anything was difficult, but my wife [Pashmeen Manchanda] supported me a lot. I don’t know how far I have come, but I am happy in the space that I am in,” says the actor, who is receiving rave reviews for his performance in Kohrra.

In Sudip Sharma’s thriller, Sobti again found the perfect opportunity to challenge himself as an actor. Playing an investigative officer in the murder case of an NRI in Punjab, the actor says he got to bring realism to the screen.

“We wanted to make it as real as possible. In the first few days, I realized that sticking to the script would be the best thing to do. I hate one-tone, intimidating [cop] characters. That is image creation, not acting. The writing was real, so my attempt was to carry that essence,” he says.

Asked if he feels validated for taking risks with his career, Sobti says, “Even if I didn’t make it, I would have been at peace with it. That doesn’t make me a less ambitious person. I am a realist. I believe good things are difficult to hide. If you are good, you will be discovered. If you aren’t discovered, maybe you aren’t good enough,” he shares.