Exclusive - The Family Man S3's Yatish Chawala aka Harman Singha on his big break: 'I am okay being stereotyped'

Harman Singha with Jaideep Ahlawat from the sets of The Family Man Season 3

The newest spy on the block, Yatish Chawla, played by Harman Singha in The Family Man Season 3, is having the best time of his career and he’s embracing every bit of it.

After years of working behind the camera, sometimes as a creative director or AD, he has been building himself quietly through OTT cameos. Now The Family Man Season 3 has pushed him into the mainstream spotlight. And he’s not only aware of the impact but also proud of the direction in which his journey is moving.

In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Harman spoke about the years of hard work and silent working that have gone into getting where he is now.

"It's been one of the best weeks of my life. Every actor needs that little time in the sun to really feel good about their work,” he told us while acknowledging the sudden surge in calls, opportunities and recognition.

Also Read: Explained - Manoj Bajpayee’s Srikant Tiwari loses his edge and style in The Family Man Season 3, read to know why?

The breakthrough with The Family Man Season 3, where he is working opposite Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Sharib Hashmi and others, has granted him what he calls momentum, something he has worked towards for years.

But what stands out most is Harman Singha’s refreshing, almost defiant comfort with the possibility of being typecast. He said he is happy to be stereotyped as long as he keeps getting work.

“I’m happy to be stereotyped as a grey character. I feel I would be very lucky to get stereotyped, as I can play a grey character. Yatish is a gray character. If I get stereotyped, it is ok… stereotype wohi hota hai jiska kaam achcha chal raha hota hai," he says without hesitation.

Harman says for him being boxed into a certain mould is not a creative limitation but rather a sign that the audience remembers you, responds to you, and wants more of you.

“Most of the time actors are very thankful for that phase in their life where they were doing something that people loved and they kept doing it. Until they broke out of that comfort space,” he adds.

How life changed post The Family Man Season 3

Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, The Family Man Season 3 expands into a faster, more intense narrative, introducing new characters who shape the story in unexpected ways.

Harman’s Yatish is seen as a sharp, layered and intentionally grey character. During the course of the show, it becomes one of the notable new additions.

He credits the warm welcome from the cast for helping him settle in: “When I met Manoj sir and Sharib Hashmi, they made me feel like I was a part of the team… Manoj sir is a very open person. One day the team took us and the other newcomers to the season to spend an evening with Manoj sir to ease things out. He's the sun, and we're all the planets orbiting around him," he added.

With Family Man Season 3 exploring deeper emotional stakes and heightened urgency, Harman's character serves as one of the threads connecting the show’s evolving universe.

It’s no surprise that audiences and industry insiders have taken note and it has now led to a 'few very good calls.'

"I've had a few calls after the show, and I'm going to meet some big directors. The OTT boom has helped actors like me. I've been working consistently, and I'm grateful for that. I'm hoping to get more opportunities and work with bigger directors," he said.

A career built slowly

Harman quit his Merchant Navy job and came to Mumbai at the age of 20. Not many know he is the younger brother of Roadies winner and actor Rannvijay Singha. He then started working in reality TV, worked as an associate creative director, made content, and then slowly transitioned to OTT roles.

He agrees that he is an OTT-born actor. "I was set to make my Bollywood debut in 2013 with a film called Mango directed by Abbas Tyrewala but it never got released. After that it took me 3 years to make an acting debut, which was on an OTT platform. I am an OTT-born-and-bred child who thrives on long-form content. So, for me, long format is something where I thrive. Though in my heart I always wanted to do a big Bollywood movie that releases in theaters. I was really excited when Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani happened. Even though it was a five-minute role, it saw me playing young Dharmendra ji and it was satisfactory. And for somebody like me, we don’t have the choices; we have to build momentum. By doing small roles in OTT space, I have managed to do 4-5 cameos in big properties like 'Rock Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,' 'Call Me Bae,' 'Big Girls Don’t Cry,' and so on. And I have gotten many good roles in other shows like Potluck. I feel as long as you are working and getting regular work, it will be rewarding later and land you in a good role," he added.

He spoke about how Yatish's role landed in his lap. “When I did Entanglement, Raj and DK were invited for the screening… They liked my performance. Raj spoke with Mukesh Chabra and that's when I got a call for the auditions the next day. I had a lot of hope in my heart when I went for the audition," he added.

Now, after years of cameos, small roles and quiet perseverance, Harman says the impact is here—measurable, undeniable, and opening doors.

Harman on nepotism

Harman is candid about how the industry functions. “Nepotism is a reality… there's no meritocracy… You have to become a bankable actor jiske naam par aik show commission ho jaye,” he says.

Yet he refuses to dwell on the unfairness. Instead, he emphasizes effort: “Effort se hi beat karna hai competition… It's a long race.”

Rannvijay has been a big influence

Even as his own star rises, Harman repeatedly goes back to the influence of his elder brother—actor and Roadies winner Rannvijay Singha.

“Rannvijay’s journey has not only influenced my journey but also 400-500 other people… Roadies has changed the trajectory of my family and a lot of families," says Harman as he proudly speaks about his brother's achievements.

Talking about Harman Singha, he was also a writer and former creative director. He began his career in reality television and gradually transitioned to OTT roles with appearances in Potluck, Call Me Bae, Big Girls Don’t Cry and more. He was also seen in a small role in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

The Family Man Season 3 marks his most significant and impactful role, positioning him as one of the most promising grey-shade performers in the OTT landscape.