Shooting is outlet for my secret fantasy

Nasir Kazi of the Cross Connection fame admits he loves to go on the sets and face the camera. PREMA K zooms in on him with a few posers

Which are your television shows on air currently?
I am acting in 'Kesar', and 'KSBKBT' and am hosting 'Haath Se Haath Milao on DD1, and 'Cross Connection' on Zee smile.

What's happening to 'Kyunki Yeh Hain Hasya Kavi Muqabla'?
I don't know what's happening to it. Neither are they taking it off air, nor are they shooting new episodes. It's a good show and is very popular with people. I haven't shot for it for almost six months. No one seems to know anything about it. But it's still on air. They keep telecasting old shows. People ask me when will they start showing new episodes. 'The Indian Laughter Challenge' came much after it but see where it has reached.

What about 'Cross Connection'?
That's great fun. It's a filler between shows on Zee smile. I actually go on the streets and ask people questions like the similarity between a girl and a car. Then the answers are interchanged on screen. So it's really hilarious.

'Haath Se ..' sounds quite serious!
It's about HIV/ AIDS awareness and is a celebrity-based show. We have a film star on the show and a common person who's spreading awareness about HIV in his locality. He's our Yuva Star. We ask him for his choice of actors on the show and accordingly invite the actor as a celebrity guest. Both have to challenge the other, so that way it's a lot of fun. But at the end of it there's a serious message on HIV for the viewers. The celebrities are quite shocked to see people doing so much for a good cause. They also enjoy meeting these genuine people.

Let's come to your screen characters...
I'm playing Koomal, a Fashion Designer, in 'Kesar'. I'm handling Kesar's business and living in Harman Khanna's house. He confides in me about his love for 'Kesar'.

Koomal sounds very gay!
He's effeminate, not gay. I just change the tone of my voice a bit but don't have long hair or wear long clothes. I add humour to the scenes wherever I can. I'm not playing a typecast gay. I improvise a lot and get away with things.

Did any real life character inspire you?
No. I treat every scene differently. Some scenes are heavy and some are very funny. Every person goes through different emotions every day in real life. So how can I make a screen character behave in a different manner? I take it according to the mood of the scene. The director is there to guide me about how much to give to each scene. I don't believe that a character is supposed or not supposed to do something. It's how the writer perceives the character. I just enjoy playing the characters.

Are you a director's actor?
I consider myself a professional actor and just deliver the goods. I don't force my creative inputs on my director. I discuss it with the director when I feel convinced about something.

What's more fun, acting or anchoring?
I enjoy working; it could be anything. I love going on the sets and facing the camera. For me shooting is an outlet for my secret fantasies. I can kill people, I can tell a girl I love her, I can die; it's a fantastic job. It's the best profession to be in if you enjoy your work. I enjoy my work and take it as a day-to-day thing. Anchoring comes naturally to me as I love to talk and can strike a conversation with anyone. I can make four lines seem like 16 lines and make them entertaining.

Does it feel bad that your career in films never took off?
Today TV actors are more successful than film actors. All of them are making money. There's more security for television actors than film actors.

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