Exclusive- Nishank Verma on working with Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta for Haale Dil: They showed a lot of trust in me being able to justify the part

Ravi Dubey Sargun Mehta's next series, Haale Dil, will be shot in Chandigarh. After Manisha Rani was cast as the lead actress, writer Nishank Verma, who wrote the popular series Jamtara and has also appeared in Bollywood films like Akshay Kumar's Gold and Akshay Khanna's Section 375, was cast in a pivotal role. The writer-actor has also appeared in several television commercials, short films, and online series. In an exclusive conversation with Times Of India TV, Nishank got candid about doing the show, transition to TV and more.
Your journey this far, how would you describe it?
It’s been an incredible learning curve. With my roots in theatre and formal training in filmmaking, I always knew I wanted to build a career in the arts. I feel fortunate to be making a living doing things I love—both acting and writing. I’ve always wanted to do meaningful work with my craft, and though it took its own sweet time coming, I feel I can now successfully claim to be a working actor, and a working writer.
We are going to be seeing you in Ravi and Sargun's next, what made you say yes to this one?
A lot of factors, but first and foremost—the story. It’s a relationship drama with layered emotions, drawn from real life, and what I love most is that it doesn’t judge its characters. It embraces their complexities with honesty and nuance. The character I’m playing has a beautiful vulnerability, and I was excited to explore the intricacies operating within him.
Plus, Ravi and Sargun are incredible producers—warm, supportive, and deeply invested in their projects. They showed a lot of trust in me being able to justify the part, and that gave me confidence. I also auditioned with our director, Jai sir, and the entire process just felt right. The timing was also right. My last release, The Magic Of Shiri was in November, and I had been itching to get back on set. I’m waiting for a few releases that I hope will come out soon, and so this just felt like the right thing to do at the right time.
From films to series to TV, you have almost done it all, how does it feel to be not contained to one medium alone?
I don’t think my craft is medium specific. Of course one has to be malleable and adapt to the specific shooting styles of different sets, but the basic job remains the same - show up on time, know my lines, be truthful to the moment.
What has been the difference between Stage and TV?
The difference between stage and screen though, in my experience, is that with stage, you get to marinate the character for a long time, which helps you discover and play with minute intricacies a lot more; every time you put up the same play, it’s a new experience for the actor in some way. But with camera work, once the final take is recorded, it’s done - you are not gonna play that scene again, you’re not gonna say those lines again - so you just get that one chance to deliver your best version of that scene. That contrast keeps both mediums exciting for me.
Your experience of working with Ravi and Sargun?
It’s been fantastic. They’re hands-on producers who truly understand storytelling. Their insights have helped us connect with our characters on a much deeper level. Beyond that, they’re just incredibly sharp and witty, often bringing fresh perspectives to a scene that I wouldn’t have thought of. And from what they’ve been telling me, they seem happy with my work so far—so I’ll take that as a good sign!
What next after this?
I’ve auditioned for some exciting projects, so fingers crossed for those. I’m also waiting on a few releases—two independent films where I play the lead, hoping they secure distribution soon. Then there’s a film with Maddock that I wrapped in 2023. On the writing front, some of my work is set to be released soon, and I can’t wait for those announcements. I’m hoping my work in the series gets noticed and I get to play more meaningful parts soon.