don't bother about TRPs, I simply put in my best'
Q Post reincarnation, you now play your age in Kumkum. How does it feel playing a young Sumeet once again?
It's wonderful and I am enjoying it too. It will give me an opportunity to do a lot of things that I couldn't do as an older character. In a way I am lucky. I do a lot of reality television where I am myself either as a host or participant. I haven't had the problem of worrying about playing an older character like other actors. But playing a younger character after a two-year gap is really nice.
Q Do you think Kumkum required a generation leap because at that time it was said that you and Juhi were opposed to playing parents...
Playing parents or older characters was not an issue because we were not going to look really old. These days on television you hardly see parents of grown up children looking old. The generation leap was a call taken by the channel and production company and I think at that point of time the decision was justified in the interest of the show.
Q Is it true that the show suffered with the introduction of new generation which took away the focus from Sumeet and Kumkum?
I wouldn't know. But in a way, the generation leap was good because with new characters coming in I got some relief. It's difficult doing 10 scenes every day.
Q Why did the show have to go for a reincarnation theme? Is it because the ratings were coming down?
I don't bother about TRPs at all. I don't know when they go down and go up. My job is to bother about my work, how well I am performing and what I can do to improve my performance.
Q Is the young love story of Sumeet and Kumkum working?
The love story has just started and the response seems to be good. Sumeet and Kumkum meet in college and are currently sharing a sweet love-hate relationship. In fact, Sumeet and Kumkum never got to play young lovers in the show before this.
Kumkum was Sumeet's sister-in-law and they were good friends as well. But after she became a widow they gradually fell in love and got married. This is a new love angle and it is an interesting twist in the story. Now it's up to the marketing people to promote it well.
Q Aren't you tired of doing the same show for six years?
Everything gets monotonous after a point but the challenge lies in how you make it more interesting for yourself. The key to success is motivation and hard work. Unless you motivate yourself you will get bored of doing the same thing over a long period of time.
Luckily, I also do reality TV which gives me an opportunity to do different things and recharge myself.
Q Both as a host and participant, you are a happening celebrity in reality TV. Do you give it more preference over fiction?
No, I don't. Both are different and I enjoy doing both fiction and reality TV. I was lucky enough to get opportunities to host shows when I was doing Kyunki and since then one or the other show kept happening. I love dancing and reality TV gives me an opportunity to do that as well. it's a win-win situation.
Q Aren't most reality shows similar?
The format is the same but every reality show is a little different from the other. I liked the concept of Yeh Hai Jalwa where common people have been paired with celebrities. It's a competition for both the celebrities as well as common people, where the onus of success lies on the celebrity's shoulders.
Q But the celebrity also stands to get Rs 20 lakh as compared to the Rs 5 lakhs for the winning team of five people...
Well, that's the format and the prize money has been decided by channel. As far as I am concerned I am supposed to help my team perform well and compete with others. It's a big show and I am sure everyone is going to have a great time.
Q How many hours are you giving to your team of aspiring actors and models?
The show has just started and currently I am giving about three hours for rehearsals. But later I think I will have to put in at least six hours. Nothing less than that will do.
Anupamaa
