2009-10 was most frustrating period in my career: Purab Kohli

Actor Purab Kohli says he could not bank on the success of 'Rock On' as many of his crucial films got shelved due to recession in 2009 and 2010.
The 34-year-old actor, however, is looking forward to the release of his upcoming film 'Jal', in which he plays the lead role opposite Tannishtha Chatterjee. The movie, directed by Girish Malik, is releasing on March 28.
"I started off my career as an actor not wanting to be an actor. There was no plan. I was taking offers as they were coming. The good thing was that people appreciated my performance. But when 'Rock On' released, there were many offers for the lead role," Purab told PTI.

"But that happened during the recession period, at the end of 2009-10. That was the most frustrating period in my life, I had four films with producers where I was the lead, but they were getting shelved," he added.
In the movie, the actor plays 'Bakka', a man, who claims to have a special gift for locating water in the adverse environmental conditions of Rann of Kutch.
Purab loved the role, which is quite different from his usual boy-next-door image.
"As an actor it is kind of boring to play a particular self all the time. If I feel like the characters are merging, or there is some similarity in them, suddenly my whole energy level drops. I feel like there is nothing new for me to learn or explore," he said.

"One tries very hard to play as different characters as possible, which is why 'Jal' is very exciting as I have never gone down to this part. This character was very new to me," he added.