On 26 January, the new TV 2 series Russebussen will be released. There, Kompani Lauritzen current Turab Awan (25) plays the role of “Vip”.
It is the first time Awan is trying his hand as an actor, as he is usually an artist and music producer. But before entering this creative world, he had a completely different job.
However, when he got the role in Russebussen, he made a drastic choice.
Was in Mexico
Awan says that he entered the casting process late. The production had not yet found someone who could take the role of “Vip” – a shy and reserved guy, who rarely dares to express his own opinions.
Suddenly, Awan was contacted.
At this time he was on vacation in Mexico. Awan is a trained social worker and had worked as an environmental therapist for one month, before he booked his plane tickets and left.
FEELING OF MASTERY: Turab Awan had little experience with acting before Russebussen, but he felt a sense of mastery during the recording. Photo: TV 2
– I feel like a free soul, so I just ran away to Mexico. A bit of an asshole about it, I’ll be honest, he says to TV 2.
It was the first job he got as a trained social worker. However, it would not be long before this journey came to an end. Because when he was in Mexico, he auditioned and got the part in the series – without having met anyone from the production in real life.
– I have never experienced anything like it. It went very quickly and it was a bit scary, but it was an opportunity I had to take, he says.
Called the boss
When he got the part, he made a phone call to his then boss. There was a busy time ahead of him with a lot of recording.
– I had to call the boss. I said, ‘Either I have to resign or you have to resign,'” reveals Awan.
– I gave her the opportunity because I didn’t want to just quit, even though I knew that was what I had to do anyway, he explains.
RUSSE TIME: Turan Awan had a quiet Russian time and was surprised by the Russian culture in the series. Photo: TV 2
Today, he is glad that he quit this job – despite the fact that it was also a sad decision. This spring, he is relevant both as a “Vip” in the Russian bus, as a participant in Kompani Lauritzen and he also dabbles in music.
Awan has not looked back since this everyday life began.
– I do what I love, and that is to work creatively, he says.
Ramadan under recording
After he came home from Mexico, everything went relatively quickly. The recording of Russebussen began a week after returning home, and before that the days passed for reading tests and scripts.
The recording itself did not go completely smoothly. It was in the middle of Ramadan and Awan was fasting the whole way through.
– It was really tough, but it was also very nice. You become much sharper and you have more energy to spare, says the actor and adds:
– I don’t think I was able to process it completely when I was in it. I thought I had to just exist here and now. I managed that just fine.
KOMPANI LAURITZEN: In addition to Russebussen, Turab Awan is currently in this year’s Kompani Laurtizen. Photo: Matti Bernitz/ TV 2
– What on earth?!
Awan says that he had a lot of fun during the recording, but that the Russian environment surprised him.
– It shows what the Russian environment is like today, I just thought: “What the hell?!”. I was in shock that the environment is like that.
He particularly singles out drugs during the Russian era as what he reacts to. Awan describes his own Russian time as very calm, as he initially did not want to be Russian.
– I have concluded that the Russian era is a very unhealthy time. It is a culture and an environment of ostracism and exclusion. And the friendships that are destroyed and how trivial it is, he believes.
Precisely this theme is taken up in Russebussen.
– There are many who feel the pressure. It is the fear of not being selected and not being included. It is very big, he says in conclusion.
Series creator and screenwriter, Miriam Larsen, wanted to create a series for young people about how much it can mean to feel that they fit in.
– I think most of us have experienced feeling left out, perhaps especially in our youth. The idea behind Russebussen is to create a series for young people about how important it can feel to fit in, and how much it hurts when you don’t, says Larsen.
See The Russian bus from 26 January on TV 2 Play.
