Times Of Chang

THE EX-DENTIST WANTS TO SINK HIS TEETH INTO MEATY ROLES. ANALITA SETH ENJOYS CHATTING WITH SINGER-HOST-ACTOR MEIYANG CHANG

- Analita Seth

Of Chinese descent, Meiyang Chang, was born and bred in rustic Dhanbad in Jharkhand. His lineage demanded he acquire a degree in dentistry but his leanings brought him on Indian Idol season 3 in 2007. Later, his oriental features and immaculate Hindi caught the late Yash Chopra’s discerning eye and his acting career began with YRF’s Badmaash Company, where he played the alcoholic Zing. If in Dibakar Banerjee’s Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! he appeared as the opium trader Kanai Dao, he lent dignity to his gay character, Nischay Baruah, in the web series Untag. Life’s truly been all about ‘untag-ing’ for Chang, who quit a staid but secure career to chase showbiz dreams. The glory of singing Tukka laga for Ranbir Kapoor in Jagga Jasoos behind him, he’s now hosting the new talent show Love Me India. Well, the title couldn’t be more foretelling for the multi-faceted artiste…

FROM BEING A DENTIST, A VJ, A SINGER AND NOW AN ACTOR... WHAT’S BROUGHT YOU SO FAR?

I used to be an introvert before I joined the industry. Being an outsider, you don’t have anyone to fall upon. So, I approached everything with an unfiltered approach. That innocence perhaps endeared me to people.