‘I’m more comfortable being a negative gu

Have you signed any film with Dor?
I haven't signed on the dotted line as yet, but talks are on with a couple of producers.

What are you doing on television now?
My show, India Calling,
on Star One has just got over. I'm doing Harre Kaanch Ki Chudiya and Rishtoh Ki Dorr. I'm playing the main lead in Harre Kaanch ... while it's a negative role
in the latter.

Do you enjoy playing negative roles?
I love it. I guess it comes naturally to me as compared to intense emotional roles. I've played a negative character in Mansha and a negative cameo role in Krishna Arjun.
My character in Kehta Hain Dil... was slightly positive and slightly negative but the negativity
had a reason. But Kabir Dhanrajgir in Rishtoh Ki... is a completely negative character. I started by being a spoilt brat but now I'm on a mission to avenge my sister's death. I'm a very aggressive guy. Even my character in Harre Kaanch... moves between negative and positive. But my character in Kehta Hain Dil... was the most intense and emotional one. I guess I'm more comfortable being a negative guy (laughs).

Are you a negative guy in real life?
(Laughs) I'm not but it comes easily to me.

Have you done films before Dor?
I started with small roles in Mohabbatein then I did Jogger's Park, 7 1/2 Phere, Veer Zaara, and Mr. Ya Miss. I've also done Missed Call, which was a festival film and was also released commercially.

Did you expect Dor to be a non-success commercially?
I never thought of the trade aspect at all while signing the film. Till date, no one has told me that they didn't like the film. As an actor, I only knew that it would be a well-appreciated film. I only hoped with all my heart that it would be a bigger success than 'Iqbal'. An actor cannot do anything beyond working hard and hoping for the success of his film.

It's said a television actor never gets a good deal in films. Do you agree?
Definitely! Filmmakers say that we're giving you a decent role in a big film so there will be a compromise on the remuneration bit. But luckily, I've been decently paid. Honestly speaking, till last year, I was desperate to do films. I would take up whatever came my way. It's only now I've realised that I should stop running after films. Henceforth I'll do only good roles. Although I'd love to work with all the big names in the industry, I'll not do one-scene roles for them where people don't even remember me in it.
But yes, I'd do it only for Aditya Chopra. I'm extremely fond of him as a person and
have great regards for him as a filmmaker.

Will you continue with television?
I'm definitely planning to continue with television unless a miracle happens and I sign five to six films. But I'm definitely going to be more selective. Although I've worked with the best of directors on television and done good challenging roles, to be brutally honest, the money hasn't been very good.

But doesn't the market price of a television actor shoot up after he does a film?
I've heard that too but I haven't yet experienced it, as Dor is my first major release. People remember me in it. I've had to tell people what I did in my
earlier films.

Given a choice, would you do films or television?
Definitely films! But I don't want to cut myself off from television completely. Television is very special to me. Whatever I am today is because of television. If I can stand confidently in front of Aditya Chopra or Nagesh Kukunoor, then it's because of television. I've never gone to an acting school or done theatre like most actors.

Any dream role?
Nicolas Cage's roles in Leaving Las Vegas and City of Angels. He's given one of his best performances in Leaving Las Vegas.

How would you like to see yourself five years from now?
I don't have a clue. I don't believe in planning my life beyond tomorrow. Life is
anyways full of surprises. I want to enjoy each day and take life
as it comes.

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