"I am thankful to the audience for accepting me as Shani," says Rohit Khurana

It's been three and a half months since you have started playing the elder Shani. How has the feedback been so far?

The feedback is great. I am thankful to the audience that they have accepted me. Child actor Kartikey Malviye who used to play the young Shani raised the bar very high and when I started, I was cautious and nervous that I should not let down the show and also I have to take it higher.

Were you nervous?

Yes, I was. Shani is my first mythological show and the language spoken in the show is pure Hindi and it was a great challenge for me. My lips are used to the dialogues now. With the help of my director, my co-artists and creative team, I managed to deliver.

Do you feel after Vansh in Uttaran, Shani will create a milestone in your career?

Shani is definitely the toughest one. After Vansh, I have played different shades in different shows. I always made it a point that my role does not get lost amongst four other women characters in the show. With Shani, my responsibility is bigger.

The effect of Shani... does that impact you in real life?

Well, people do talk about that a lot; that your Shani should be very strong or you should be in good books of Shani. I have personally not experienced anything, I have been to the astrologer few times and I do listen to them. I believe I must have done some good deeds, that's why I got to play this role. As an actor, you have certain characters in your mind which you like to play but I have never ever imagined that I will play a mythological character. Swastik Productions had approached me for other roles earlier but I was reluctant to leave Mumbai and come to Umargaun to shoot. I have a family, and I don't like to leave them behind. Siddharth Kumar Tewary surely has a vision.

So how you are managing spending time with kids and working in Umargaun?

Once in a week, I prefer to go home and spend sometime with my family. So, if I pack-up around 3pm, I travel to Mumbai, spend the night at home and next morning, I again come to the set to shoot.

You have not done a single reality show in your career... any reason? Are you guarded about your personal life?

I have been offered Bigg Boss many times, but I did not take it. I felt that the time was not right. I am not at all guarded about my personal life. People with whom I work know me and all my social networking accounts have information that I am married and have two kids. I do go out with them for shopping and watching movies, there is no secrecy.

With this show, you have also reunited with Tina Dattaa, your first heroine. How is it working with her again in Shani?

After 7, years we are working again. When we started with Uttaran, we both were new but people liked our chemistry and Uttaran was number one show across the channel. People love to see us together on-screen again and that's a blessing.

When you are working round the clock, you have no time for leisure. You have to steal time from your schedule and do whatever you like. In my case, I take out time and go to Mumbai to my family and spend time with them. That's my ultimate relaxation.

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