'I have yet to get my due'-Nasir(KOMAL)

Daughter set it off

"I realised it was causing confusion for my daughters, Inshirah and Ayesha, at school. The younger one, Ayesha, would insist that my name was Nasir Khan, and not Nasir Kazi, in the school records. To avoid all this, I am now Nasir Kazi, not Nasir Khan," says the actor, who says that when he entered showbiz, he simply called himself Nasir. "People assumed that my surname was Khan, and that stuck — I, too, didn't bother to rectify it."

Underrated performer

In the last few months, Nasir has been seen in Balaji shows like Kesar and Kasautii Zindagii Kay; he recently entered Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as well. Though he began by doing voice-overs, the actor has done the entire gamut — commercials, music videos, anchoring, films and television. But he feels he has yet to receive his due.

"Live game show anchoring is my forte. You cannot approach anchoring like acting. It requires a totally distinct mindset. It involves drama, comedy, and plenty of on-the-spur decisions. That's why there are some anchors who are there for years, because they are good at it; while the rest come and go."

Comedy in his genes

Nasir feels comedy comes naturally to him, inherited from his famous father. "People say it is easy to make people cry, but extremely difficult to make them laugh. On the contrary, I feel it is easy to make people laugh; it's no big deal. I am basically an actor — when I am not acting, I am shooting," he guffaws.

Didn't cash in on pedigree

The actor explains that he never cashed in on his father's name. "I began as Nasir, so whatever I have achieved or not achieved is all my doing. My father never gave me any tips or advice; I set off on my own. If I had gone around saying that I am Johnny Walker's son, it would be assumed that I only wanted to do comedy. In that sense, I started off with a clean slate, without any preconceived notions."

Nasir's Balaji circuit began with Kesar, in which he plays a fashion designer, Komal, who is now handling Kesar's (Nandini Singh) beauty products range. In Kasautii Zindagii Kay, he plays Tanisha's (Shubha Varma) father, Vinit. Two weeks ago, he entered Kyunki as the new Abhishek, husband of Tulsi's daughter Shobha (Ritu Chaudhary).

He was also seen in Kkusum, just before the drama's exit, as Kumud's (Aashka Goradia) love interest. "All these shows have me playing distinct roles, I am a colourful designer in Kesar, a strict father in Kasautii while Abhishek has a different agenda in Kyunki," he says.

Nasir also anchors the weekly celeb-based show, Haath Se Haath Mila (Doordarshan), dealing with AIDS, and Cross Connection (Zee Smile), which involves the anchor interacting with the man on the street.