Akshay all charged up!

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Akshay Anand (TOI Photo)

Akshay Anand's face not be new on TV, but the actor got a lot more recognition from his role in Saat Phere.



Surprisingly the role wasn't meant to be as important or so long. Says Akshay, "It was meant to be a small role, for about six months. In fact when I signed the serial I wasn't too happy with the role, but as the story progressed the role developed into something that was beyond anything that I expected. The story was
about Saloni and the emphasis was going to be on her relationship with her family, my character was only supposed to help her from behind closed doors."

For Akshay the changing track proved to be very helpful, but how does it feel when a storyline is changed to suit the TRP rating? "It can be very frustrating. It was different with Saat Phere because we got TRPs that no one expected us to get. Of course credit for that should go to Saloni played by Rajshree Thakur who's been quite a find and Nahar that's Sharad Kelkar who are the lead characters," says Akshay. Currently, Akshay is enjoying the high TRPs that the show is garnering despite competition from shows like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi or Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii.

Besides Saat Phere, Akshay is also seen in Doli Saja Ke on SaharaOne. He'll also be seen in Neelanjanaa on 9X. Speaking about his new serial he says, "The movie is about a investigative journalist, who's married with a child. But due to certain circumstances he has to help out a girl and allow her to live in his house. The story becomes interesting when this girl falls for him." But while this is a role that suits Akshay, he plays father to Barkha Bisht in Doli Sajaa Ke. Does that feel weird? "No, it doesn't," he says. "I have a nine-year-old son, so it's not tough playing a father. Besides what has age got to do with it. I think the role is very interesting and that's the reason I have accepted it. Also, it's not like I am the only one doing it. You have people playing father or mother to actors their age," he laughs.

Ask him about television being a woman's medium and he says, "As far as the audience is concerned, I am sure men watch as much television as women do. But yes, Indian television is dominated by women. It's not easy for an actor to get a good role. Most male characters behave seems different. it's not the way a real person would respond," he points.