Shakti Anand- interview:)

MONSOON may be not be here, but it's raining actors in Ahmedabad. A star visit every week ensures we're passively in touch with the Mumbai television and film industry. And so, now's the turn for Shakti Anand and Kanchi Kaul to be written and known about, the lead pair of Sony's Ek Ladki Anjaani Si. No, it was no set visit. No shooting plans in Gujarat's Ahmedabad either. A Know-Us-Better trip, to put it apt.

But, who doesn't know Shakti Anand already? A familiar on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, followed by Saara Akaash with now-wife Sai and the reality show Crime Patrol, Anand is enjoying playing lead in ELAS, ''something so different from shows I've done since it involves characteristic attention to detail''. Obviously, considering Crime Patrol's more of a hard-hitting show and Saara Akaash about ''war, mission and combat''. For Kanchi Kaul, it's a first time with regards to acting for a daily soap, but we've seen her play her part in ads like Clearsil, Santro, Johnson, Sangini Diamonds, Rejoice, and ''many many more''. But for now, let's get familiar with Anand. ''In my other action-oriented roles, it's been fun — goli chalana aur ladai karna. But this one calls for minute scanning. I mean I haven't done a role where even my lifting an eyebrow or blinking suggests something!'' says Anand, excitement writ large on his face. And now for some suspense bit: Anand will soon be seen in Bollywood, ''in a lead role but I don't want to disclose anything. You will know it in a couple of months''. Meanwhile, wife Sai (remember we saw the couple gyrate and match synchronised steps in couple dance competition show Nach Baliye?) is busy scripting a film and ''she plans to direct one soon enough''.

The attraction to be part of ELAS was also it's story, adapted from a Spanish tele novela Juana La Virgen. ''The story's parallel plots are intelligently woven in and we know what the next 300 episodes are going to be like,'' informs Kaul, happy that ''rising or falling TRPs won't juggle with premature deaths, tensions and characters in the daily soap''. But while acting's a new, thrilling experience for Kaul, Anand is glad he's been part of reality shows. ''I think people connect better when they see normal people like them cry on screen. There's no powder puff to make you look old and dull, no glycerine to replace tears, no water splashed to suggest perspiration. People obviously connect with reality, although I don't deny entertainment is all about playing with emotions, be they real or fake. Crying moves you, be it real or glycerine induced, doesn't it?'' he jokes, ensuring, although, the point gets driven.

And while Anand has swung around in many a disco with wife Sai, working at dancing with her in Nach Baliye ''taught me to coordinate with her, creatively and timely''. And while the husband-wife struggle to find time together (Anand is busy ''atleast 16 hours a day''), ''watching myself on screen keeps me on my toes, and happily!'' he maintains. For Kaul, many ads and six-Telugu films old, the sudden 15-16 hours of work ''is a new life''. ''Considering there are people we find fainting on the sets, I'm glad I'm enjoying my bit. Although I miss not doing anything in my free, unplanned days,'' confesses the beauty who's glad she isn't part of a regressive script. Not yet? ''Hopefully never!'' she laughs. Since we're at the receiving end, wouldn't we hope her hopes don't ditch her!