Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) Actor Ankur Bhatia feels his negative role of Sangram in the web show "Aarya" helped in establishing him as a strong performer. The series completed one of release on Saturday.

"It has been a magical journey and the show will always remain special to me. It gave me recognition as an actor and made me a household name. The memories while shooting the show are etched in my mind and whenever I remember them they bring a smile on my face," Ankur tells IANS.

Ram Madhvani's gangster drama "Aarya", starring Sushmita Sen in the titular role, is currently gearing up for a second season.

The actor, who was also seen in the film "Haseena Parkar", says he enjoyed playing the negative role.

"Playing the villain has been quite a learning experience for me and I really look forward to exploring this genre more," says Ankur.

--IANS ym/vnc