GOOD BOY,BAD BOY-ARTICLE

Anchor-actor Hussain Kuwajerwala aka Sumit Wadhwa is a huge hit with the viewers. On the small screen, he is one of the most handsome guysaround.

But, once you tell him that, as also the fact that he is among the most popular actors, it is abundantly clear that he is a genuinely modest person. "It feels absolutely great when people recognise me for my work, and that is always welcome." He attributes his success to his fans who actually make or break an actor.

"Their love and affection has fuelled my performance all these years, and I hope it continues for years to come," he says.

Hussain considers himself lucky to have got opportunities to work with some good production houses in the span of one decade. But, he doesn't rule out the role of effort in his story. "I have always put in a lot of hard work in whatever I have taken up. There were days when I would sleep for only four hours, work out in the mornings and show up at dance classes in the evenings," he tells us of his arduous journey.

Have reality shows taken over from TV soaps as the preferred viewers' choice, one asks him. "Reality shows may have sprung up recently as the choice of viewers. But, they don't define TV entertainment. A mix of TV soaps and reality shows is always preferable," he says.

Does the actor, who has also been seen in many reality shows, have any plans of going for Bollywood in the long run? "That's a dream that every actor nurtures. I am waiting for some good opportunities. Talks are on. The moment something is finalised, I shall give it my best," he exclaims.

Soap operas do not allow the actor to unleash a gamut of emotions that films do. Besides, he has also been slotted in the good boy image. One asks him if that would act as an obstacle in Bollywood. "TV soaps are a different ball game altogether. A movie rigorously sticks to a story and has an end, while in soaps we reinvent ourselves every time," he says giving credit to soaps for his growth as an actor.

However, he doesn't deny the fact that actors in TV soaps run a risk of monotonous portrayal episode after episode, even soap after soap at times. That being the case, will he mind doing a negative role, something that his viewers can never imagine him doing? "Life isn't so short. If something comes my way, I will definitely take it up."

Hussain as a bad boy may be difficult to visualise. But then, acting is a perennial challenge: and especially if one wants to make it bigger in life which Hussain certainly does.