Rajeev Khandelwal in Onir's Hamlet

He was a superstar on the small screen but Rajeev Khandelwal decided to quit all that, for a film that was termed unconventional. Since he is one actor who thinks that right choices makes all the difference, and because he's one of the best debutants this year, we think Rajeev Khandelwal is the Next Big Thing.

Every individual writes his own destiny," says Rajeev and that has been the motto of the actor's life.The 31-year-old was born and brought up in Jaipur. He moved to Delhi, started out as a production assistant, wrote over 30 documentaries, tried producing serials and then in 2002 came to Mumbai to try his luck in acting.

After few modelling assignments, he was signed on for television soap Kahiin To Hoga, and within weeks of the show going on air he became a household name as the lover boy Sujal.

But then Sujal gave up all that after four years, to move to the big screen with Aamir, a transition where many have failed. "The same people who thought that it would not be possible to jump from TV to film, met me outside the theatre and told me they knew I was the one. These guys planted so many doubts in me. The same people when they were approached to produce the film said let's go for a new cast and not from TV," says Rajeev.

Aamir was neither a conventional love story nor an action flick, moreover it released with a biggie like Sarkar Raj.Despite the risks, this Rs 2-crore film managed to impress both the audiences and the critics. And now Rajeev has more offers than he can handle. His next will be UTV Spotboy's Peter Gaya Kaam Se, besides which he has also signed Onir's adaptation of Hamlet and Tanuja Chandra's next film.

"I know the same people who are praising me and are appreciating my work are waiting to rip me apart in my next film. That's how it works. But I am trying my level best that I don't give a chance to anyone to think that it was beginner's luck," says Rajeev.

And here's a tip from the man who did it without any formal training in acting or a godfather."I was backed with confidence, conviction and a great script. And trust me the backing that a great script and the right intentions give even a Rs 50-crore drama can't give," says Rajeev.

Link:

http://www.buzz18.com/interviews/movies/rajeev-khandelwal-in -onirs-hamlet/65371/0