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He is the ideal son, the ideal sibling, the ideal partner—he epitomises perfection. Meet Hiten Tejwani, the new age man: smart and intelligent, yet compassionate and respectful; the perfect mix for a perfect family.Of course, the beginning wasn't all that perfect. It was as a final-year collegian that he decided to turn to acting. "I took a fancy to college theatre. When I won a good response, I thought, 'Why not give it a shot?'" he explains. After getting a professional portfolio shot, he sent it across to ABCL, and was invited for an audition—where he got to the final round. Undeterred, he turned to modelling, featuring in Close-Up Renew and Coke ads. Then it was back to Balaji with his portfolio. He was offered a small role in Ghar Ek Mandir, followed by appearances in Kabhi Sautan, Kabhi Saheli and Kahiin Kissi Roz. "The small roles were discouraging. But I decided to put in my best," he says. Patience certainly paid off, as he landed the main lead in Kkutumb. Kkusum and Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi... soon followed, along with two movies—Krishna Cottage (a Balaji production) and Joggers' Park. "I never thought I'd be so successful, especially since I'd stumbled into this career. It only strengthens my belief that hard work pays," he says. "There's so much competition, I'm lucky to have survived four years here. So many flash-in-the-pan 'stars' are not even seen today. But it's scary to think of these things. I just concentrate on my current work and let life take its own course." Like most TV actors, movies are in the offing. "But no typical Bollywood film. I want to work with experimental directors like Ram Gopal Varma. I only want strong roles, where I can exhibit my talent and make a mark," he enthuses.Success apart, the industry has also won him his life-partner, Gauri Pradhan. And he now lives the appropriately good life. He's swapped his Indica for a Honda City and has bought himself a home. "This growth is a part of any career," he shrugs. But not-so-common is the need to always look good and be spotted at the right parties. "That's the way this industry operates," he admits. "Unless you're always presentable and available, it is easy to be forgotten. If you package yourself well, you sell well too." Star struck: After performing at Navratri functions in USA, he's developed a huge NRI fan following. "But I realised how much they loved me, when I was presented with a collage of photographs of my complete US-stay," he remarks. "There's also a regularly updated Kkutumb-lovers' website."
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