TOI: I believe if u dun like a role, just quit-SK

Telly actor Sharad Kelkar on anchoring a new show, his ladylove Keerti and more in a friendly chat

We are surprised when telly actor Sharad Kelkar starts the interview with a humble 'Kem chho?' For someone who is a model, TV actor and an anchor, Kelkar also recently made his Bollywooddebut with Vikram Bhatt's 1920-Evil Returns.

Currently, portraying the calm and Suave Dr Ashutosh in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Sharad is now excited about anchoring a crime related show — Shaitaan on television. Sharad says, "We are trying to understand the psychology of the criminal who commits such a crime. There is a lot of research going into each episode. We are not only telling the story about the crime, but are also telling the audiences about the kind of experiences a criminal went through, which made him commit the crime."

Sharad mentions how crime has increased many folds in the past few months in smaller towns and cities. He says, "Everybody is shocked and curious as to what makes people turn into criminals."

Sharad mentions how he enjoys multitasking with two extremely different shows and playing different roles on both. He says, "While playing Dr Ashutosh, I am given a character sketch and I have to follow certain guidelines. But with Shaitaan, I have to get into the details of each story to deliver it well before the audiences. I try to find out as much as I can. I am always pursuing my creative director for more details. It is not very easy because you have to realize the pain of the people who suffered those crimes. Some stories are very sad and shocking and until you feel that, you cannot do justice to the show."

Having done Vikram Bhatt's film, Sharad also go an opportunity of doing two Marathi films as well. Ask him about the creative satisfaction he derives from doing both films and television and he says, "Honestly, I believe that if you don't like something, quit. There's no point in continuing if you're not interested."

The actor, who was earlier a Sports junkie admits that now he is not very disciplined about fitness regimes. "I hardly get time now, so whenever I have a holiday, I just visit a spa to rejuvenate myself. I'm a lazy person and leisure means movies and spending time with family."

Sharad is married to actor Keerti Kelkar for seven and a half years now and he is enjoying it. He confesses how marriage has entirely changed him as a person.

He says, "I came from a small town and studied in a Hindi medium school. I never knew about life in the metros and was orthodox. It is Keerti who brought so many changes in me and taught me everything about living life in a metro. Whatever I am today is because of my mother and my lovely wife. Keerti is responsible for a lot of progress that happened in my personal and professional life," he says on a parting note.