Vivaan Shah on Only For Singles: It is a throwback to all the classics like F.R.I.E.N.D.S & That 70’s Show, the sitcoms that we grew up watching

Online streaming platform MX Player is coming up with a new web series called Only For Singles. Directed by Samar Iqbal, the series features Pooja Banerjee, Shirin Sewani, Vivaan Shah, Dipti, Aman Uppal and Gulshan Nain. The series traces the journey of six single friends who stay together and how they struggle with their single life. Interestingly, the talented actor, dancer and voice over artist Javed Jaffery has given his voice for the promo of the series. 

In an exclusive chat with India Forums, actor Vivaan Shah talks about the series, digital debut, being a star kid and much more. 

Tell us about the concept of the series Only For Singles and your character in it. 

The show is called Only For Singles and it’s about six friends who live together in a sharing flat. The flat that they all live in is run by a character called RJ played by Dipti whose father owns the building. My character is an aspiring comic book artist, and him and RJ are old lovers, like childhood sweethearts. All the fun, interpersonal relationships, love triangle, the politics and the fight that the characters have is what the show is about. All the trials and tribulations of being single and living with the struggle is the main concept of the show. 

Amidst all the other youth-based shows, what do you think is so different about Only For Singles?

Only For Singles is basically a throwback to all the classics like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, That 70’s Show and sitcoms that we all grew up watching. You kind of get acquainted with the characters and you relate to them. 

This series will mark your debut in the digital medium. What do you have to say about the medium?

It’s a great medium and I think it opens up a lot of possibilities for actors and content creators. The difference between movies and digital medium is that in a movie you only have 2 hours whereas in digital medium you have much more time to experiment and explore the possibility of the topic. You can invest in the characters and story much more. 

Any favorite web series?

Currently my favorites are Wild Wild Country, Sacred Games, Chernobyl, but there are a lot of web series’ that I like.

You’re a star kid (son of Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah), but do you ever feel like that? 

No, I don’t really feel like a star kid. I just try and stay focused on my work and I don’t try to think too much about it. The most important thing to me is to be interested in the craft that I’m doing, especially in the entertainment business where there are so many bells and whistles and so much stuff happening around the craft. It’s important to stay focused on the work and not get frayed by other stuff. 

The web series is about singles, what according to you are the pros and cons of being single?

I think the pros are that you get to sleep a lot, time to spend on yourself, your work and your interests. The cons are of course that you’re lonely and on your own, you don’t have a partner to share your joys and sorrows. But at the same time that’s a pro and a con, it depends from person to person. 

Vivaan has earlier worked in Bollywood films like Saat Khoon Maaf and Happy New Year and is awaiting the release of his next film named Coat starring veteran actor Sanjay Mishra.