Parmeet's decision depend upon his needs

DON has made you the most likeable detective in town. Right?
Oh yes, he sure is likeable and pleasant. The show is light and not a heavy-duty thriller which makes it easy to understand. Also there is a lot of humour, which appeals to children.

What made you take up the role of a detective?
The very fact that it was a detective's character made me take it up. I have not played one till now and will not take up a similar role in the near future. The brief given to me was that he liked to disguise himself. The rest of his persona and attitude is something that I developed on my own and thankfully it has been accepted.

Anchoring Jhalak Dikhla Jaa too is a first. Isn't it?
The channel wanted a humorous husband-wife pair to anchor the show. Doing the show with my wife was an incentive. Of course, there's room for improvement because anchoring is essentially Archana's territory, but I have made myself pretty comfortable in a short time. I am doing a decent job and that makes me happy.

How is the experience of anchoring a celebrity-based show?
It's good fun. I have worked with Mona Singh and Sanjeev Kapoor happens to be a friend. Among the judges, my all-time favourite is Farah Khan with whom I gel well. I can't take liberties with Sanjay Leela Bhansali because he's a senior. I enjoy making comments about the third judge Shilpa Shetty too. The best part about the show is that there are so many surprises. Like Mahesh Manjrekar who is an absolute novice at dancing coming up with such a fun dance routine that put him in the first place or the fact that Pooja Bedi who is good at dancing was eliminated in the first round itself.

How do you choose your projects?
I am very clear about what I want to do. When I closed my production company, I needed to make a comeback to acting. That's when I took on three shows — Saara Akash, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. But now I am only sticking to some quality work. If I feel a financial crunch, I will again take up another show, which will pay me well. So at different times, my criterion is different.

What's next on the anvil?
At the moment, it's just this. After Jhalak Dikhla Jaa comes to an end, I have planned not to take up anything else for a while but simply chill out. Only after I have recharged my batteries will I take up another show. I am also busy with two films—Babul and Thodi Life Thoda Magic. I am happy with the way my life and career are going.