Ishwak Singh, who earned widespread acclaim for his role in Paatal Lok, recently opened up about how the show transformed both his life and career. Calling it a defining moment, the actor discussed the challenges, personal growth, and sense of validation that came with the show’s success.
In an exclusive conversation with India Today Digital, Ishwak Singh said, “Paatal Lok gave me massive growthboth personally and professionally. The industry became aware of me, I found an audience, and my authentic voice as an actor was finally recognised. Every creative person has something unique to offer, but earlier, there was frustration because I felt people didnt fully understand my skill set. With this show, that changed. Filmmakers and audiences started to sense what I bring to the table.
Before Paatal Lok, Ishwak admitted he often felt overlooked despite his talent. As an actor, if youre honest with yourself, you know where you stand. The validation I received after Paatal Lok aligned with my own assessment of my abilities. The kind of work I believed I deservedauthentic stories, layered and complex charactersstarted coming my way. Thats when I felt immense personal and professional growth,” he said.
Ishwaks journey to success has been unconventional.A trained architect, he left behind both his family and career to pursue acting in a city where he knew no one. “For me, work has always been the center of my universe. I came here with nothing but a dream. How my work gets received means everything to me, but acting is a profession where you can only control so much. While I have the autonomy to say yes or no to opportunities, I cant create them. Someone like Avinash Arun (director of Paatal Lok) has to believe in you first. Then its up to you to commit fully.”
For Ishwak, Paatal Lok was not just a breakthrough in his career but also a deeply transformative experience. Over the last four years, Ive realized that what keeps me grounded is my craft. As long as I keep working on myself and honing my skills, I feel centered and in control. Paatal Lok was undoubtedly the turning point in my careerit was that moment that changed everything.
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