Sandeep returns to Kyunki... as Saahil

Sandeep returns to Kyunki... as Saahil

Two years after he quit the Balaji camp, Baswana is back playing the same character

Reena Thapar Kapoor

It's an unsaid fact that when an actor quits Balaji the chap is done for. So, no one in his/her senses would ever think of quitting the production house. The soap factory guarantees work and success to actors who remain loyal to them. And those who don't… well everyone knows what happened to Amarr Upadhyay and Rajeev Khandelwal. But like they say, there are exceptions to the rule… and Sandeep Baswana is just that.

Baswana who is best known as the original Saahil Virani of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi can't help smiling. "I had quit Kyunki... a while ago because I was fed up of shooting round-the-clock. I was bored of the monotonous job and wanted to explore newer avenues," he recalls.

The actor, who returned to television after a two-year -long break, snapped up a pivotal role in Kavyanjali. One may call him plain lucky. After all not everyone can make a comfortable comeback into the dreaded yet coveted production house. But he has his own take on it. He says, "It was an amicable parting. I wanted a break and they understood my plight. I did not have a falling out with Ekta Kapoor as was rumoured at that time. Later I wanted to get back in action and Kavyanjali came my way."

However the icing on the cake is this: he has come back in the serial he quit years ago, and is playing Saahil in Kyunki... Ask him how it happened and he simply says, "One can't plan these things. I was destined to be back as Saahil, I guess. It is all about being in the right place at the right time. I recently joined the Kavyanjali team and that's when Amit Sareen (who had replaced Baswana in Kyunki...) quit."

And how was he welcomed by his colleagues? "They were all supportive and congratulated me! I didn't have to be briefed about the character because it is not new to me. It was homecoming of sorts," he smiles.

While on sabbatical, Baswana was giving final touches to his film script. "I've finished writing it. It's a fun film and I'm looking for a producer," he informs. Well aware that getting financers for his film will a bit of a task, he says matter-of-factly, "The subject is such that it can be made into a good commercial film and if not, I am sure it will land up in the film festival circuit! It depends on how much money the financer is ready to invest in it."

All things being equal, he plans to start working on the film by the end of this year. So does it mean that he will go on a break again? Ask him that and pat comes the reply, "Who knows? I'd rather cross the bridge when I come to it."



* It was an amicable parting. I wanted a break and they understood my plight. I did not have a falling out with Ekta Kapoor as was rumoured at that time – Sandeep Baswana