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O K, it is on. Rajeev Khandelwal is to make deals with contestants as the host of Sony's Deal Ya No Deal, which starts afresh on April 28. We spoke to Khandelwal, who says his best experiences have always been "when I have interacted with the common man". Are you good at deals?
No, not at all. I'm a person who goes more by instincts. Which has been your most profitable deal in terms of creative satisfaction?
I can't single out any one. Be it Time Bomb, CID or Kahin To Hoga, each role has made a huge difference to my career. It's made me who I am, what I am. All these shows make my resume look colourful, and I think Deal Ya No Deal is going to take it one step further. I hope it adds one more feather in my cap. What is it about the show that made you say 'yes'?
It's a simple, charming show. Unlike other game shows, which require the contestant to be intelligent or knowledgeable, Deal Ya No Deal makes no such demand. Also, the thrilling part is the emotions, the highs and the lows that every contestant goes through. If you had to sell the show to the viewer, bring in more people to watch it, how would you do it?
I would simply tell them that they are losing out on an exciting viewing experience, so just watch it. What do you think you have that the previous hosts — Madhavan or Mandira Bedi — did not?
(Laughs) Lack of experience. I think they have helped lay the foundation, I just have to build on it. Was anchoring at the back of your mind?
Not at all. I was totally unprepared for this. When they first offered it, I said 'No'. I was very reluctant. I wanted to chicken out, but thought, 'Let me give myself a chance'. How good was your deal with the channel?
With me, the deal is never about the money I'm going to make out of a show; it's more about the content of the show. What next? A show with Aamna Sharif ?
Yes. It's a half-an-hour pilot episode of a romantic comedy we have shot. It's for the producer to take it further, but there has been a lot of unnecessary hype. And I might be doing a Deeya-Tony Singh show called Left, Right, Left.
New avatar In its new format, Deal Ya No Deal, which was three times a week, will be aired only on Friday, one hour from 8 pm Decision-making gets tougher as contestants will now have to choose from 26 briefcases instead of 22; but they can also get help and seek support from family members seated in a special area on the set. The family plays an important role in decision-making The banker (referred to as 'Sarkar') will now be a part of the set. His presence on the show will heighten the drama
No, not at all. I'm a person who goes more by instincts. Which has been your most profitable deal in terms of creative satisfaction?
I can't single out any one. Be it Time Bomb, CID or Kahin To Hoga, each role has made a huge difference to my career. It's made me who I am, what I am. All these shows make my resume look colourful, and I think Deal Ya No Deal is going to take it one step further. I hope it adds one more feather in my cap. What is it about the show that made you say 'yes'?
It's a simple, charming show. Unlike other game shows, which require the contestant to be intelligent or knowledgeable, Deal Ya No Deal makes no such demand. Also, the thrilling part is the emotions, the highs and the lows that every contestant goes through. If you had to sell the show to the viewer, bring in more people to watch it, how would you do it?
I would simply tell them that they are losing out on an exciting viewing experience, so just watch it. What do you think you have that the previous hosts — Madhavan or Mandira Bedi — did not?
(Laughs) Lack of experience. I think they have helped lay the foundation, I just have to build on it. Was anchoring at the back of your mind?
Not at all. I was totally unprepared for this. When they first offered it, I said 'No'. I was very reluctant. I wanted to chicken out, but thought, 'Let me give myself a chance'. How good was your deal with the channel?
With me, the deal is never about the money I'm going to make out of a show; it's more about the content of the show. What next? A show with Aamna Sharif ?
Yes. It's a half-an-hour pilot episode of a romantic comedy we have shot. It's for the producer to take it further, but there has been a lot of unnecessary hype. And I might be doing a Deeya-Tony Singh show called Left, Right, Left.
New avatar In its new format, Deal Ya No Deal, which was three times a week, will be aired only on Friday, one hour from 8 pm Decision-making gets tougher as contestants will now have to choose from 26 briefcases instead of 22; but they can also get help and seek support from family members seated in a special area on the set. The family plays an important role in decision-making The banker (referred to as 'Sarkar') will now be a part of the set. His presence on the show will heighten the drama
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