Index of Articles on KTH - Page 6

In the Telegraph newspaper, every Sunday there's a chapter Turning Point. They tell about some public figure's turning point in life. Today it was Rajeev's So I scanned the article for you all. Here's it....

As a documentary filmmaker I lost Rs 11 . lakh in my dream, project which was a pilot episode on the Indian Army. Unfortunately, it didn't take off due to the war in Afghanistan that had broken out at that time. This was about four years ago and I was crushed as I had written, directed and produced it. I arrived in Mumbai hoping to sell it to a television channel, but landed a role with Balaji Telefilms instead. This was the defining moment in my life and came as a huge relief after the failure of my project.

The initial offer from Balaji Telefilms was for the 20-episode serial Kya Hadsa Kya Haqeeqat. I was sceptical about working for Balaji as I had heard that it was a kind of a factory where you get entangled in a mire of deadlines and shooting schedules. However, I changed my mind and discovered that what I had heard for so long about the production house was completely misleading. After Kya Hadsa Kya Haqeeqat was completed I took a break of eight months. Then Kahiin To Hoga happened and became the high-point of my career.
However, I guess the first real turning point of my life was when I moved from my home in laid-back Jaipur to Delhi a few months after graduating from St Xavier's College, Ahmedabad. At this time I was still undecided about what profession I would pursue, as I was debating about appearing in competitive exams so that I could train to be a software engineer.
But somewhere down the line I realised that I wanted to be an actor. So I relocated to Delhi and began by selling paintings that had been sourced from Jaipur in collaboration with a friend. I also started making documentary films. My journey into the world of the camera had begun and I have not looked back since.

(As told to Arundhati Basu)

P:S A full size large pic. of Rajeev above is in the gallery page 19.

"I have been asked to leave"

He's the man who cried wolf. Rajeev Khandelwal, better known as Sujal who mock threatened to walk out of Kahiin To Hoga, is once again in the media spotlight, this time to say that it's all over for him. But this time, he says, he has been asked to leave. And he makes no bones about it.

In an exclusive interview with Vickey Lalwani, Khandelwal cries his heart out. Here are the excerpts:

Is it for real this time?

Yes.

And why?

To tell you the truth, I have been asked to leave.

Reason?

I need logic that will explain what I am doing in the serial and why I am doing so. There is no logic being offered. I can't work like a robot. I am an actor who works by conviction. My character has clicked because I have kept myself very close to Sujal.

So?

Time and again, I have differed with the scenes which have been written for me. I just don't seem to agree with most of the things handed out to me.

But you can sit across the table and thrash out these issues?

It's not happening. I tried my best. When I came back last time, I thought things would change. I gave it another try. But almost every time, I was told to toe the line. I asked them to throw me out. Finally they said, "No more of your questions." 15 May is my last date of shooting.

It's said that you are insecure. You are ruffled by the footage given to Akshat, Swayam and Rishi…

Rishi and Akshat were there earlier too. There has never been any problem between us. We play squash, badminton and even hang out together at times.

It's also said that you don't give dates to 'KTH'?

Ever since I signed Ketan Mehta's serial, Balaji and I had an understanding that I will give 12 days each to both shows. I have not gone back on that.

Going back to your complaint. Do you think it's easy to explain the logic of every scene to every actor? I mean, you know the hectic pace at which Indian television functions?

Then please tell me why six creatives (creative directors) have been appointed. Just to get fat salaries? (pauses).

Go on...

Listen to this one. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. There was a scene where I will barge in from Tokyo and slap Kashish. Reason? Because I feel that my mother has suffered an accident since she told her about my father's first marriage with Akshat's mother. But do you know how I get to know it? When I land up in the hospital and hear my dad talking to his himself that 'kaash Kashish ne Veena ko nahin bataya hota'. How can somebody hear what the other person is saying in his mind? (pauses).

Uh huh?

There's another scene where they said that the first thing I would do after coming back from Tokyo is call up my father. I cannot digest that. In the serial, I have virtually no equation with my dad. I objected. The Creatives were called. Finally, they understood my perspective. Now, my dad will call me up as soon as I land in India. But do you know that the journey from Tokyo to Mumbai is shown to be done in just one hour?

But does your dad know that you are coming back from Tokyo, that he calls you up?

No, he does not. Don't question me on logics any further.

What if your good friend Aamna requests you to return?

Aamna will not request. She didn't last time either. She is a thorough professional and we don't interfere in our work areas.

What if Shobhaji and Jeetuji call you back?

I respect them a lot. But this time I am firm. I am out of 'KTH' and I think this is a promise.

But promises are meant to be broken, Mr Khandelwal?

I returned once. Yeh koi khel nahin. Yeh koi masti nahin. Bahut Ho Gaya. But yes, if I realise that the system here can kill an actor if he walks out of a certain production house and a certain channel, I might decide to return.

So, you have just one serial in your kitty now, Ketan Mehta's show coming up on Zee?

True. But so what? I am not playing a safe game here.

You did a pilot for a serial by Anubhav Sinha. Has it been passed?

I have no intimation on that. It's a good comedy show. I may do it, I may not. Let's see.

Are you trying to hint that you are now looking at films?

No. The truth is that I don't know what I'll do. I am simply blank

http://www.indiantelevision.com/tellychakkar/y2k5/april/26ap r/interview_rajeev.php

sujalfan...please delete post if it has been posted b4 😳

'I will miss Rajeev'

Last evening, Rajeev Khandelwal 'officially' said goodbye to 'Kahiin To Hoga' which made him a household name. The time is right to chat up with his 'good friend' Aamna Shariff on how she feels about the whole issue. But the tall, beautiful actress is reluctant to talk much.

Here are her cryptic and evasive replies to Vickey Lalwani

How did you find the new guy Gurpreet Singh?
I don't know. It's early to comment much.

But you shot a test scene with him yesterday afternoon?
He seems to be a good actor. Let's see how he puts himself into it.

Rajeev wanted to leave 'KTH' in November last year. It was said that he came back for emotional reasons?
So what?

Weren't you the one who persuaded him to stay on?
We all told him to stay on, especially the technicians. Nobody wanted him to go.

He says there are loopholes in the script which defy logic?
I can't comment on that.

But as an actor, do you challenge the script? Indian television functions as a 24 X 7 grind, especially if it's a

daily show. Is constant questioning justified?
You are trying your best for me to answer your previous question, but I don't want to comment on that.

Did he use to discuss his turmoil with you?
No. We never mixed our work with our friendship.

Will you miss him?
That goes without saying. We all will miss him.

Will 'KTH' sets be the same for you again. You fell in love with this man while shooting?
(Laughs) Those are preposterous rumours.

Sure?
Oh, come on. The script had beautiful moments between us. The on-screen chemistry clicked. That's all.

Can you share the same chemistry with Gurpreet?
It will be difficult. But as a professional actress, I will put my best foot forward.

How often will you'll keep in touch?
We will definitely keep in touch. If you leave a certain job, you don't stop communicating with your former colleagues.

What else is happening in life?
I am doing a Pakistani serial with Rajeev. Then, there's a Pakistani film happening, which I have yet to sign on the dotted line. And yes, I am looking to shift from my rental flat in Goregaon into a new owned flat in Mindspace, Malad.

Ekta's ultimatum to Sujal
By: Upala KBR
May 7, 2005