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I don't need Balaji: Rajiv Khandelwal |
Rumours insist that you are going back to Balaji Telefilms?
I've always insisted that I'd never go back in life. I'll always move ahead. So there's no question of going back. The day Balaji has something new to offer me, I might consider the offer. But at the moment, no thanks. I don't relate to the stuff Balaji dishes out. I left Kahiin To Hoga because of creative differences. Ekta's school of thought is alien to me
Where do you think the rumours of your return to Balaji are coming from?
Search me! I've heard I rang up Balaji for a role. I guess somebody out there is desperate to see me back. But I don't need Balaji to see me move ahead. I'm pretty satisfied with the progress I've made. In fact, I've achieved much more in the last one-and-a-half years than I had achieved while doing Kahiin To Hoga.
What about your personal rapport with Ekta Kapoor?
I don't have any rapport with her. She's a professional. And so am I. Personally, I feel she's surrounded by the wrong kind of people. But that's none of my concern. For me she's just one of the many producers who are doing a good job on television. Ekta Ekta Ekta! Why do we go on as if she's the only producer on TV who's doing good work?
Which other producer is doing good work?
No show is really worth watching, I agree. Do you watch a single show avidly? Not me! But yes, I'm trying something different in Left Right Left. It's given me a new identity. They don't call me Sujal any more but Ranbir Shekhawat. That feels good.
You've threatened to leave Left Right Left.
Yes. I want its quality to improve. I share a great rapport with the producer-director Tony Singh. He has taken me into confidence. And we're trying to bring positive changes into show. From March 8, Left Right Left goes off-season for the World Cup for two months.
What about reality TV. You've tried it.
Deal Ya No Deal wasn't reality TV. But yes, anything new is always welcome. But it could become tedious if something else doesn't come along.
You've threatened to leave Left Right Left. Yes. I want its quality to improve
Article # 2
Ekta Kapoor says the former Sujal is still resting on past laurels and needs to wake up and smell the coffee!
The battle lines were drawn a long time ago, but Ekta Kapoor and Rajeev Khandelwal preferred to be (somewhat) discreet about their long-standing feud.
Not anymore.
A few days ago, Khandelwal took a dig at Ekta in print, and now the czarina of Indian television is hitting back.
Q. Rajeev doesn't agree with your television programming…
A. I don't care about his opinion, but I'm sure he does not see or even understand television.
Q. Is Kasamh Se a saas-bahu saga?
A. For the record, Jai Walia's character is bigger than Sujal ever was, even in his prime. The kind of fan following Jai Walia has, not only in India but abroad too, is several times more than what Sujal had.
Q. He says you are not the only producer on Indian television.
A. You know, it's funny how Rajeev insists on using my name whenever he needs publicity. What has he done in his career apart from playing Sujal? He says nobody can take Sujal away from him.
That's right, nobody can. That would happen only if he succeeded in doing a character better than Sujal, but he is still resting on past laurels. Who was he before Kahiin To Hoga? Nobody. Who is he after Kahiin To Hoga? Nobody.
Doesn't that prove who is bigger and who needs whom? The person who creates the character is always bigger and more important than the person who plays it. He is playing only one character, but for us he is just one of the many great characters we have created.
Q. What if he apologises and pleads to work with you again?
A. I don't want to work with Rajeev Khandelwal ever again. That's my last word on him. The story ends here.
"Rajeev doesn't agree with your television programming"
Thats real problem with Rajeev, let creative head do their job, stop interfering, just act.....
Edited by DesiBabe - 18 years ago