I signed Akela because it’s more like a f

Sudhanshu Pandde signs a television serial after five years, and plays the lead

Subhash K Jha

He was quite the television hottie. And over a period of time, actor Sudhanshu Pandde has dabbled in singing and even acted in films. "Cinema remains my primary interest. In fact, I took up Akela, my first serial in five years, only because I see it as a weekly feature film. The directors, Glen-Ankush are giving Akela a unique finish, and producer B P Singh pays well. So, it's more like a film," smiles Sudhanshu.

Akela is Sudhanshu's first serial since Kanyaadan, for Ekta Kapoor. "Some time ago, I had a guest appearance in Life Ho To Aisi. Besides that, I was busy with films, and with my music," he says. Sudhanshu was earlier part of the music group Band Of Boys, but he quit due to family responsibilities. "In India, playing in a band isn't financially rewarding. But I haven't quit singing," he says. At present, the actor lives with his wife and a five-year old son.

The films Sudhanshu has signed include Bhupendra Gupta's Unns, Chooriyan, a love story, and Manorajan, a comedy in which he plays a struggler who ends up as a gangster. Sudhanshu feels his recent release, Jadoo Sa Chal Gaya, was a bad experience. "The producers put the lead actress Meera Vasudevan's face on a bikini-clad girl and advertised this otherwise clean love triangle. I was outraged, more so for Meera, who comes from a conservative family. I don't want to be part of anything that I cannot watch with my parents," he says.

"So far, it has been smooth-sailing for me," says Sudhanshu. "Ever since my spiritual guru Gul Sahib entered my life, I've known no discomfort. Sure, some things didn't work out as planned. For instance, people say Mallika Sherawat hogged all the limelight in The Myth where I played a more substantial role. But I think Mallika is getting the fame due to her."

Sudhanshu is rather upbeat about his friendship with Stanley Tong, director of The Myth. "We hit it off well and still keep in touch. I didn't sign The Myth hoping to become an international star. I'm content with what I have."