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Oh, brother!

Rajeev's ramp antics
By: Shaheen Parkar
May 31, 2006

Rajiv Khandelwal sports new image in 'Left Right Left'

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Aug 13 (IANS) Television actor Rajiv Khandelwal has gone in for an image change with his new serial 'Left Right Left', where he plays a Captain in an army academy.

The serial, which is aired weekdays on Sony/Sab channel, is the actor's first daily soap in more than a year. He last shot for 'Kahiin To Hoga' on May 18, 2005.

Said Rajiv:''Left Right Left' takes me as far away from 'Kahiin To Hoga' as possible. I'm blessed because people haven't forgotten me though I haven't been that visible on TV. I wanted to break the myth about TV stars being forgotten. And I didn't vanish entirely. I did a weekly series 'Time Bomb' for six months. Then I did a cameo in 'ID', a music video and 'Deal Ya No Deal' on Sony.'

When asked if audiences would identify him only as Sujal of 'Kahiin To Hoga', he said people knew him best as Rajiv. 'Sujal as a character remains alive because I played him for two years every day, but people don't address me as Sujal any more.'

Rajiv said that 'Kahiin To Hoga' not only brought him stardom but also helped him grow as a human being. 'I stepped out of that world and stepped into a real world.'Kahiin To Hoga' turned me into a superstar. As a person, I'm equipped to take on any challenge now.'

The actor turned down Sony's supernatural thriller 'Akela', which is also on air now, because he did not want to essay any more tense characters and he feels Sudhanshu Pande is apt for the part.

'When I heard the narration, I felt there was no vision beyond the first four episodes and I didn't want to do horror. After Sujal, I didn't want to play another tense unsmiling character. But when I saw the first episode, I knew the makers of 'Akela' had a winner on their hands and Sudhanshu Pande looks apt for the part. I couldn't have done such a good job.'

Getting back to 'Left Right Left', Rajiv said he was hooked immediately after the producers Deeya and Tony Singh called.

'After Ekta Kapoor, if there's anyone I wanted to work with it was Tony and Deeya. I come from an army background, and I'm playing an army-man in 'Left Right Left'. When I heard the story I said 'this sounds too good'. Of course, I had my doubts. We can never depict the army absolutely authentically. I'd describe 'Left Right Left' as very subtle humour in uniform.'

Rajiv however clarified that this serial isn't based on the Indian Army. 'No TV serial can afford to depict the army. It's about an academy that motivates cadets to join the army. We've designed the visuals with great care and the cadets got actually trained. I play Captain Rajvir Singh and I love it.'

'Left Right Left' will take up only 18 days each month but Rajiv says he won't do any other serial simultaneously, as he wants audiences to know him by just one character at a time.

Meanwhile, the popular actor denies reports of his high-handed behaviour while anchoring the game show 'Deal Ya No Deal'.

'My high-handedness was news to me. I was supposed to have been smoking without permission during shooting. That's what I call smoke without fire. No one on the sets was allowed to smoke and I don't need to defend myself further.'

Rajiv added that he is not bothered by failure. 'In one year I've done all kinds of stuff. I failed with 'Deal Ya No Deal'. Sony expected a miracle but I couldn't save a sinking show. But at least I tried. I'm happy as long as the people working with me are happy.

On his long-term plans, he said he would be focusing on television throughout the year. 'At the year-end, I'll take a serious look at a career in cinema.'

RAJEEV KHANDELWAL : The Enigmatic Actor
By Piroj Wadia




He's often been called arrogant and charming in the same breath. He
may not be drop-dead good-looking but has the face of a poster-boy.
He chucked up secured fame for growth as an actor.
Rajeev Khandelwal will be the enigma of the season
The newest daily on air is Left Right Left. Produced and directed by
Tony and Deeya Singh, Left Right Left on SAB TV is an inspirational
and modern story. It captures the journey of six confused and
disoriented youngsters who transform into strong determined
individuals. The story also renders their realization for the love
of their motherland along the way.

At the centre of the young ones' life is Captain Rajveer, a charming
gentleman with a great sense of humour. He is is at the academy on a
high level confidential agenda. He is a taskmaster to the core and
becomes a true mentor of the youngsters, and he is portrayed by
Rajeev Khandelwal aka Sujal.

Rajeev's early foray into documentary filmmaking is by now well-
known. Since he has done one on the Indian Army, he must feel at
home with this series. "I never was a big-time documentary
filmmaker. It was more of experimenting with DD and in a small way I
contributed to them. I began writing and directing documentary
films. Till date, I have written about 30 documentaries on various
subjects, I made a documentary on the Indian Army and paramilitary
forces, old age, women's labour among many others."

That experience and attraction for making a film on the army stems
from his family ties - his father is a retired army officer and his
brother serves in the army. So to some extent that has been his
reason for doing Left Right Left. Ask if he did any preparation and
he replies, "Nothing much. I did go to the Raigad Military Academy
for a fitness reference point. Besides, my brother was posted in
Pune till recently, so I would visit him quite regularly and had an
opportunity to observe him. This kind of exposure has helped me with
my body language, nuances and tone of voice. But I am not playing a
man in uniform. I am seen as an instructor in plainclothes. But my
body language and tone will reflect my Army grounding and
discipline. As Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat I am linked with all
the other characters and each has a flair of his own. Shweta Salve
is a psycho-analyst, Puneet Issar is the principal and I am the
instructor."

Since the channel is not really a mainstream one, the show is likely
to go unnoticed, but Rajeev is not too concerned, "Tony and Deeya
have a wonderful track-record. Besides, my idea isn't to rock the
TRP meter, I would love to do that too, but would prefer to do shows
which have a definite focus." According to Rajeev, Time Bomb was
always slated for 24 episodes and he is comfortable with that.

He does not feel left out for not being seen on a high-profile
channel. "I find it sad when I see actors running after shows. They
are being featured in three to four shows simultaneously. It shows
how insecure they are. I'm proud about all the work that I have been
doing. I'd rather look ahead and do meaningful work." Having been
off the hectic pace of the shooting schedule for a daily show,
Rajeev avers that he's finding his rhythm. "With Left Right Left I
am back to a daily after a long time. I had for sometime lost touch
with the schedule."

The actor is referred to by quite a few epithets, and his admires
will aver that 'pin-up boy' is the most correct . He has a gaggle of
girls gushing over him, when spotted. They just cannot take their
eyes off his intense dark eyes. The Balaji late-night soap Kaahin To
Hoga brought him to the threshold of recognition and popularity. He
became the face of Sujal Garewal, the protagonist. The adulation
that followed was something any young actor would have given an arm
and a leg for. All this despite the fact that Kaahin To Hoga was a
late night show. Yet, when he had everything going for him he simply
upped and announced that he wanted out. "Sujal catapulted me to
fame. I got recognition. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
But I needed to grow as an actor and as an individual." In fact,
many were the critics who scoffed at his foolishness.. Aware of the
criticism that gathered around him Rajeev avers, "When I walked out
of Kaahin To Hoga people were critical. And those who talk like that
are all losers. I walked out at the peak of my association with the
show, and out of the safety and security of having regular work."
But he did so in search of growth and a challenge.

Though he seems to be going for unconventional roles after Kaahin To
Hoga, he simply can't shake off the Sujal tag, and doesn't really
mind it, "I love it when I am called Sujal, and people still call me
Sujal as the association is so strong. In fact, I would be hurt if I
am asked who I am."

Playing Sujal for an indefinite period wasn't what the good-looking
actor had in mind. "I wanted the makers to know that I am capable of
going beyond Sujal." So his next role was in an action serial Time
Bomb which ended in 24 episodes. "I see doing such unconventional
roles as a challenge to show my talent." Time Bomb with Ketan Mehta
was different and challenging for the young actor at so early in his
career. "It was a brilliant experience working with Ketan Mehta and
Kay Kay Menon. It didn't do well as regards TRPs. But the whole
thing was a learning experience," Rajeev sums up. He also anchored
Deal Ya No Deal, which he enjoyed doing and was sorry it had to
close down.

The end credits of many a prime-time serial read 'Show Packaging -
Rajeev Khandelwal'. Now considering Rajeev's association with
filmmaking, it would be an obvious question if he is also involved
in show packaging for some of the serials. He chuckles, "This is
anther Rajeev Khandelwal. It is not the first time I have been asked
this question. He too is from Delhi, but a very senior person in the
industry and a good editor. When I was in Delhi making my films,
some media people would often mistake me for him, but as soon as
they found out I wasn't their man they would drop me. When I came to
Mumbai, he was already here by then by that time, we met and laughed
at the mixed-up identities."

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Will the likes of Smriti Irani and Rajeev Khandelwal have the same audience impact in their new roles?

Sapana Patil Poojary

Indian television has witnessed it time and again. Actors starting off with a bang, often fail to maintain their successful track-record on small-screen

Actors Tulsi-Mihir, Parvati-Om or Angad-Kripa - the on-screen characters from the popular television serials, are undoubtedly household names with that one character they played. But unfortunately, the success rates of these actors diminished when they donned a new role. Actors like Arun Govil and Nitish Bharadwaj are names from the past, who could never grow beyond their screen characters of Ram and Krishna. It's not that they didn't get to play other roles, but somehow they failed to impress the audience. Such cases are many. Amarr Upadhyay, Kiran Karmarkar and Rajeev Khandelwal, who played Mihir Virani, Om Agarwal and Sujal Garewal respectively, maybe cited as few glaring examples joining the list in the recent times. We are yet to see if Smriti Irani aka Tulsi of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi will break this jinx. Incidentally, both Smriti and Kiran are coming together in the forthcoming Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan.

Amarr begs to differ. "I agree that Mihir has been one of my biggest roles on the small screen so far, but that has never come in my way of getting better roles later. I am happy that people still remember the death scene of Mihir. After Kyunki…, I did Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, where I got a phenomenal response. And similarly, my role as Kunal Kharbanda in Viraasat; is being liked by many," says Amarr.

Rajeev Khandelwal reasons, "My role as Sujal in Kahiin To Hoga ran for nearly four years and became popular with the audience. Whereas my subsequent roles in Time Bomb, CID or Deal Ya No Deal were too short-lived for people to get attached to them. Besides, it's not that I didn't get an equally good offer. Currently, my show Left Right Left is doing very well but nobody seems to be concerned. Anyway, I am happy that the audience is yet to accept the new Sujal as they have adored the new Mihir. As for an actor's fame being restricted to just one role, I would like to add that Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh is remembered even today. Does that make him any less important as an actor?"

Nausheen Ali Sardar too is a case in point. She was launched as Kkusum in Kkusum and as the pattern has it, she failed to grab eyeballs in Kaalchakra. Nausheen says, "Kaalchakra was not promoted well. But this is just one side of the story. There are examplesa of cases where actors have become successful in their second innings too. Take for example Pallavi Kulkarni, whose character in Vaidehi is as popular as the one in Kehta Hai Dil. I believe that if the characterization is strong, then it can become a hit."

Producer and director Aroona Irani who has given Sangeeta Ghosh new entity in her serials Mehendi Tere Naam Ki, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and Rabba Ishq Na Hove says, "Public memory is very short. An actor is remembered as long as the serial is on air. But I think accepting Smriti Irani as Uma in Thodi… may be a little difficult because Kyunki… is still on air and Tulsi is a strong character."

Writer-director Aatish Kapadia couldn't agree less. He says, "The last role that an actor plays does not pose any hindrance to us. We look at the skills of the actor while casting him." Seems true; as he has successfully broken the stereotypes in his serial Baa Bahoo Aur Baby.