artical iq

Mohammad Iqbal Khan, better known as Angad, in Sony's Kaisa Ye Pyaar Hai, is the current heartthrob on TV. Just about every teeny bopper is fida over him. We unravel the real man behind the Angad persona.

You've come from nowhere, and today you are a rage. Tell us about yourself.
I was born and brought up in Kashmir. My dad is a retired government servant and my mom is a homemaker. I studied in a boarding school in Shimla and was in my third year of college in Delhi pursuing English (Hons) when I dropped out to try my luck in showbiz.

Your first brush with acting?
I did a couple of music videos including one with Rakesh Bapat and Raima Sen and another one for Falguni Pathak with Sneha Chabbria, my real life girlfriend. I then dabbled a bit in film production when I got my first film Fun2ssh. I also did another movie called Bullet that was shot in Bulgaria.

It was after Bullet that I got a call from Sony asking me to work with Balaji Telefilms for a new show called Kaisa Ye Pyaar Hai where I had to play the lead role of a rock star. Being an Ekta show, on Sony prime time, it was a big opportunity. There were no auditions as such but Ekta wanted to see me on tape. She had this whole idea of Angad having long hair and coloured lenses but that didn't happen!

How is Iqbal, the person?
Not showy or loud, I think I'm just a normal person. I'm the complete opposite of Angad in real life. I don't wear all those flashy earrings and lockets. I'm a very simple 'jeans and shirt' guy.

If KYPH wouldn't have happened where do you think you would be? Did you have any other profession in mind?
I would still be looking for the right break in films. Frankly speaking, I've stopped making plans, as I had never planned to work in TV either. But I would surely be somewhere in the glamour world. I can't think of any other profession. In fact I even dropped out of college for this industry! You have so many fans now. Which is your craziest fan memory?
My fans are mostly young girls, kids and homely aunties (laughs), who watch my show. I remember one 50-year-old lady from Punjab who used to call me and message me. She would say my face reminded her of her boyfriend in college! She would actually keep track of where I was at any given time. If I would be in my make-up van while shooting, she would call and say "I know you are in Madh Island in your van." It really spooked me!

How were you as a kid?
Not naughty, but I was bad kid. I used to scream and shout and trouble everyone. In fact, a point had come where the neighbours would say 'It's ok, it's only Iqbal." I was really bad. (laughs)

Would you go back to films now if you get good offers?
As I've said, I don't make plans anymore. I'm not going to leave Angad so easily! But yes, if I get a good offer then I'll tell the producer