Khoj Parchaiyo Ke Uss Par: Sharib Hashmi on 16 years of his acting journey, says, ‘I kept auditioning but didn’t land much work...’ - Exclusive

MUMBAI: Zee5 has been giving out some amazing series and has now added one more to their list titled, ‘Khoj: Parchaiyo Ke Uss Paar’. It is a psychological thriller series starring Sharib Hashmi, Anupriya Goenka and Aamir Dalvi. The seven-episode series takes the audience on a mind-bending journey. The series is directed by Prabal Baruah.

Sharib Hashmi, who has been in the industry for a long time now and has given some really amazing performances, has taken the lead in this series and surely his performance has been loved by the audiences.

When we got in touch with Sharib Hashmi, the actor revealed some pretty interesting things about the show and himself.

With so much content out there, why should people invest their time in watching Khoj?

Nowadays, there’s an abundance of content centered around dark, intense, edgy themes with plenty of action. However, Khoj stands apart as a drama thriller that you can enjoy with the entire family. What makes this film unique is the perfect balance of drama and emotions within the thriller genre—something you don’t often see in other thriller movies. This is the film’s biggest USP, and I truly believe the audience will absolutely love it."

It has been over 15 years for you in this industry and it is only now that you are getting the much-deserved fame, recognition and projects as the main lead. How do you look back at this journey? And what would be your advice to the newcomers?

It’s been 16 years since I began acting professionally, and I can confidently say it was the best decision of my life. I left a well-paying job to follow my passion for acting. The first three years were incredibly tough—I kept auditioning but didn’t land much work. During that time, I managed to do just one ad, a TV commercial, and a short film for which I wasn’t even paid. Financially, I was completely broke, and with a wife and child to support, things were extremely challenging. Looking back now, I see the struggles as invaluable experiences that shaped my journey. Everything I’ve gone through makes what I’ve achieved feel even more meaningful. All the hard work has finally paid off, and it’s incredibly rewarding when people recognize and appreciate your work. To anyone starting out, my advice is simple: only pursue acting if you are truly passionate, beyond everything else. Don’t approach it as just a job—it requires dedication, perseverance, and love for the craft. I wish all the best to the artists, directors, and everyone pursuing their dreams in this field."

With leading a project as a lead also comes responsibility. Does this responsibility bother you? How do you measure success on OTT?

Of course, there’s a sense of responsibility that comes with being a lead actor, but for me, every character I play is equally important—whether it’s a lead role, a supporting role, or even a cameo. I treat all my roles with the same level of passion, effort, and dedication, regardless of the screen time or prominence. There’s a lot of work to do, and my next role might be a supporting character or a cameo—it’s not necessary that I’ll always play lead characters. What matters most to me is that the role is challenging and interesting enough to truly compel me to take it on. As for OTT platforms, being a part of digital media, I feel their success is often tied to social media metrics, though I’m not entirely sure how it’s measured. For me, the real love comes through fan messages and the people I meet in person—it’s those interactions that matter most. Honestly, I don’t really know how to measure success on OTT, but the connection with the audience is what truly counts"

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