SK's new show - Agent Raghav ! Every page has information !!! - Page 35

&TV @AndTVOfficial

Agent Trisha's leadership skills coupled with a fierce attitude makes her an agent that criminals fear #AgentRaghav

Adding spice to its bouquet of programmes, &TV is making a foray into crime mystery genre this week with Agent Raghav - Crime Branch (ARCB) . Just like the channel, for Sharad Kelkar, who plays the title role of a police officer working for the crime branch of the CBI, both the serial as well as the character , mark a shift from what he has done so far.

"Raghav is unlike the other roles I have done: an angry young man, a mature guy in a relationship or a negative character on the small screen. I found him to interesting and unlike other crime shows he is not depicted as a stiff cop playing by rules only. On the contrary he is chilled out normal person -- somebody audience can relate to and bond with as he is believable." A big name on small screen, Sharad is known to underplay in a medium where people wear their emotions on the sleeve.Saat Phere - Saloni Ka SafarSinndoor Tere Naam KaUttaranKuch Toh Log Kahenge Sharad says Raghav's childhood experience play a prominent part in his life. "It makes him intense, layered, troubled and full of turmoil from inside. But despite that he is cheerful and humorous. Now that was a challenge for me."

Sharad accepts candidly that he is an "actor by fluke". Elaborating, he states that landing some modelling assignments and becoming a finalist in Grasim Mr. India, spurred an urge to try his hand in the show business with things working out for him thereafter. "I have not attended any school or institute and have learnt everything hands on. I learnt while earning," he quips. The actor emphasises that he has no inhibition in doing varied roles. "As an actor it is my aim to explore all shades. That is how I will enrich myself."

Sharad holds that it's the novelty and unusual approach that makes the series different. "We have taken up complex cases and the process of solving them is very interesting. Without resorting to violence, physical force or firing, Raghav will crack the cases by observation, deduction and using logic and rationale." Moreover, the actor reveals while watching the show, the viewers themselves will attempt to derive conclusions. "Thus it will ensure their complete engagement and involvement."

Use of brain rather than brawn, grey cells instead of muscle power is Raghav's detection style. These are attributed to his master skills of keenly observing body language, behavioural and speech patterns and watching out closely for all types of clues. He is also depicted indulging in a witty and wise conversation enabling him to elicit information by the gift of gab. "He plays on human ingenuity and faculties," comments Sharad. The viewers are not left in the dark about how the conclusions were arrived at. "Visual and audio medium are used to provide thorough explanation to enable people to understand." This feature and the absence of brutality and violence are tipped to draw viewership across all the ages, he adds.Sharad who will be seen in the forthcoming Hindi film Hero, remake of the Subhash Ghai's yesteryear hit by the same name. He plays the role that Sanjeev Kumar did in the original. "It is different and has an element of fun and humour in it," he says. He will also been seen as a villain in a Telugu movie.

Besides his front of the camera act, Sharad lends his voice for dubbing too. Some of the notable films are the Hindi version of Bahubali (Prabhas), Fast and Furious 7, Exodus - Gods and Kingsand Dawn of The Planets of the Apes. "For a while when I was not doing any television assignment I started dubbing. I perceive it as a process of learning voice modulation and it does contribute to my acting."

(The serial goes on air from September 5, 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday)

Reena Aggarwal @ReenaAggarwal

Super excited.. #AgentRaghav @AndTVOfficial @deepalipansare @JasonThamIndia @shantanugrwl @SharadK7 @AahanaKumra

Right on target @SharadK7 #AgentRaghav @AndTVOfficial http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/right-on-target/article7607630.ece ...

And the countdown begins for agent raghav, three days to go

yogendra chaturvedi @yogendraht

@SalmanYusuffFC @Madhurimmatuli @ayushmannk @anjanasukhani @ImRaina @deepikasingh150 @karantacker @SharadK7

IE entertainment @ieEntertainment

'Agent Raghav' is not 'Sherlock Holmes', says @SharadK7 | http://iexp.in/Gpx185835

ONE part brilliant, one part eccentric " it's a character trait synonymous with almost every new-age detective. &TV's upcoming bi-weekly series, Agent Raghav is no different. Raghav Sinha played by Sharad Kelkar, is a man, like Liam Neeson (in Taken) would say, with very specific skill sets. An enviable high IQ complemented with a photographic memory and an amazing power of deduction keeps the 35 year old ahead of the game while his acute power of observation helps him get to the bottom of the case. To say the least, Agent Raghav, that premieres this September 5, is a cocktail of Monk, Mentalist, Sherlock Holmes with a dash of Psych.

Kelkar, who returns to the small screen after more than two years, begs to differ. "I don't think he is Holmes," says the actor. Agent Raghav is far younger (handsome too) CBI agent who, like any detective, from Byomkesh to Karamchand (Pankaj Kapur), is razor sharp, a mind reader and a keen observer of body language. "He is not super intelligent or super human. In fact, he avoids action. He'd rather play mind games than wield a gun," says Kelkar.

But like others, he too has a dark past that defines and drives him " the unsolved murder of his psychiatrist and hypno-therapist father when Raghav is 14 years old. A fast-paced, mystery thriller that will see Kelkar a couple of kilos lighter and leaner. "He is a careless, garrulous person, who plays by his own rules," he says.
Then, there's always a team to add more character to it. From his boss, Agent Trisha (Aahana Kumra), the cool guy on the squad Agent Rajbir (Danish Pandor) to the geek techie Agent Gauri (Deepali Pansare) and sharpshooter Agent Bikram (Jason Tham).

Kelkar signed up for the show for its novelty factor, and that it will air in seasons. "It does not interfere with my films. Also, after shows such as Saat Phere, Sindoor Tere Naam Ka, and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, I was looking for something new."

After an MBA in Gwalior, being Grasim Mr India finalist in 2002, and "learning the ABC of acting from his wife Keerti Gaekwad", Kelkar is now making inroads into cinema. After his roles in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (Khanji Bhai, Leela's brother) and the Marathi hit Lai Bhaari, Kelkar will reprise Sanjeev Kumar's role in Hero, make his Telegu debut in Sardar Gabbar Singh as an antagonist and will play late politician Gopinath Munde in the biopic, Sangharsh Yatra.

Not many know that Kelkar is the voice behind Hindi dubbings of Hollywood films such as Planet of the Apes, Guardians of Galaxy, Mad Max, Smurfs 1and 2, Fast & Furious 7 and Bahubali too. "I love dubbing because I get to improvise and write the dialogues too," says Kelkar.