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Vikas Manaktala is creating waves as the fun-loving cadet Hooda in Left Right Left. His typical Haryanvi accent and sense of humour are a big hit with the audience. The actor has become so popular that he now screens all his calls before taking them. Sneha Hazarika gets to know television's favourite Jat.

Tell us a little about your background
I am from Delhi and have done a lot of fashion shows and print ads. In fact, I was modelling for last the four years before moving to Mumbai. In Mumbai I was actively involved in theatre, which taught me so many aspects of acting like scripting, make-up etc. It was a great learning experience.

From theatre to television, how did you manage the jump?
I was getting a lot of offers to do television, but I was looking for something worthwhile to start with. One day a friend of mind, who was working with DJs, the producers of Left Right Left told me about this show which was happening. Since I was a great fan of Tony and Deeya Singh, I just went ahead and auditioned. And here I am, playing Hooda.

Describe your character Hooda?
Well, he is a very chilled out character who is a compulsive gambler. He cannot ever resist betting but doesn't compromise on his values. He doesn't have to try very hard to win for he is a born winner, a born leader. It comes easiely to him unlike others who slog very hard. He lives life to the fullest.

How did you prepare for this character?
Apart from working out the nitty-grittys of this character, I, along with all my co-stars, went to the Raigad military camp in order to learn the basics of army training. We used to get up at 5.30 am and report for duty at 5.45 am. After rigorously training the whole day, we used to go to bed only by 9-9.30 in the night. This hardcore training helped us a great deal in getting disciplined.

How hard was it to copy the Haryanvi accent?
Oh, being from Delhi, which has so many people from Haryana, it wasn't a problem.

In your very first serial, you got to work with established stars like Rajeev Khandelwal, Shweta Salve and Puneet Issar! How was the experience?
Awesome. Rajeev is a really nice guy and is very chilled out. As for Puneet sir, everyone was scared of him and we all thought he must be a very strict person. I remember when I was shooting with him for the first time. I smiled at him from across the table, and that broke the ice between us. He smiled back and slapped me on my shoulder. As for Shweta, she is a very sweet girl even though I haven't had a lot of scenes with her. She is a fabulous actress.

And your co-star Priyanka Bassi?
Interestingly, Priyanka is also from Delhi, my hometown. We are very pally with each other. In fact, all the new kids in the serial are friendly with each other.

What about Tony and Deeya Singh?
Getting a break with them is the best thing that could happen to any new comer. Even before joining the industry, I was keen on working with them. They are really very sweet people.

Where do you see your future going?
I am happy with Left Right Left as of now. But after this, I want to work in movies, only movies. I hope I do not have to do any more serials.

Surviving in this industry is not always certain. Some stick on for long, while others fail to prove themselves. So do these telly actors have another backup ready for them? Or are they in Mumbai with just acting on their mind?

Riya V Anandwala talks to a few non Mumbai actors and asks them about their backup plans?

Amit Sadh

I just have acting with me. I don't have anything by my side. And fortunately God has been very kind and gracious to me. Acting is my only backup. I was never pessimistic when I came to Mumbai with absolutely nothing in my hand, and spent two years on the footpath! I have no financial backup, there is no one supporting behind me. Yes, emotionally, I have people around me. It fluctuates from person to person, and this is about me!

Iqbal Khan

Iqbal Khan

Aah! I have never ever thought of an alternative career. And that's because I am confident about myself. But on a real note, if that ever happens, I can do any sort of physical labour. I don't have a great education backing me, no MBA degree, no engineering degree; I haven't even completed my graduation. In life, these degrees are not everything; there is no guarantee of getting everything with your educational qualification. What matters today is experience!

Priyanka Bassi

I have no other backup other than acting as of now. I just shifted my base from Delhi to Mumbai. If something goes wrong, I will have to plan accordingly. I have his gut feeling; I am here to make it big so I have never given it a thought. I think I will join the creative side of this industry but nothing apart from this industry. Education is certainly very important, but this is all about passion. I definitely have a financial backup, as my family is very supportive.

Amit Tandon

Well, if not acting, it unquestionably has to be singing. I have received many accolades for my singing, and perhaps that can be my backup. It is not always that this line is not certain, it's just very competitive, and once if you make a position here, nothing can go wrong. I have seen many who don't deserve what they have, while only a few are worthy of what they have. I feel being intelligent in this industry is very very important. Education undoubtedly is significant, but after being on screen one cannot do a nine to five job, you see. Technically I do have a financial backup from my parents who are based in the U.S.A, but I don't want them to think that I failed for what I was here. I am saving too, and making my own financial backup.

Gurdeep Kohli

Gurdeep Kohli

Oh! I was working in an ad agency prior to this and also I had a career in painting. I had 22 students under me who were learning painting. I was working with Lintas in the creative department. Education was the criteria of my acting career. My mother had warned me that if I don't finish my education, I would not be allowed to step in this industry. I had to turn down two to three lucrative modeling assignments as I was appearing for my exams. I have a financial backup from whatever I have worked on. So I have never relied on acting per say!

Vipul Gupta

I am an MBA! Prior to this I was working in a MNC called G capital in the financial division. So if nothing works out for me in this line at any point of time, I have my master's degree to fall on!

I am - tall, dark, fun loving...and a loner!

My career so far - slow and steady

I am currently playing - Major Nair in SAB's Left Right Left

If I am offered a TV show - I'll see two things; money and money

Friends first or lovers? - a lover has to be a very good friend, so both

My girlfriends always try to change -something that cannot be changed

My worst habit is - smoking

At a party, I can't wait to - hit the bar

I feel most comfortable when - at home

The last time I cried was - when my parents passed away

The movie that makes me cry is - Ghost

My mother always advised me - 'If there is a will, there is a way'

Every guy should be - a gentleman

Marriage is - like Chloromint, dubara mat puchana!

The channels I love to surf - National Geographic and Discovery

Favourite TV character - Karamchand

Favourite movie stars - Sanju Baba, Aamir Khan, Kamal Hassan and Big B.

What I like about the TV industry - it's a money-making machine

What I dislike about the TV industry - no one pays on time

My family background - we are Rana's from Nepal who shifted to Allahabad in 1887

My dream - to travel round the globe, before I pack my bags

My future plans - to act and produce

He's been one of the least visible stars on the small screen recently, yet one of the most talked about ones. Fame shadows the former Sujal wherever he treads, even if it happens to be a trek to a neighbourhood eatery.

After quitting Star Plus' Kahiin To Hoga last May, Rajeev Khandelwal has chosen his few TV roles with care, inviting much speculation from his fans and media. But the reticent actor prefers not to make public the reasons behind his decisions, whether professional or personal.

In a rare chat, Rajeev opens up to Telly Chakkar, during the rehearsals of Sony's Deal Ya No Deal, which he will begin hosting from next week.

You are going to be back after a long break....
I won't say it was a break...I just slowed down my pace. I just wanted to live my life my way. I am not one of those who get insecure if they stop working for a while, not one to go after money. Instead, I spent my time with my family, indulged in adventure sports, the works... I believe that if you are good, work will always find you!

You must have had a lot of offers coming your way?
Yes, there were lots. In fact, all the big programmes that launched in the last one year went via me. I didn't exactly turn them all down, I just told them that I wasn't prepared for a new project just yet. Most of them didn't excite me to the extent that I would like to jump into the project, and yes, I was in a mood to slow down anyway.

Any regrets for turning down any show?
Unfortunately, no. I would love television to come up with real good software, but mostly, shows that have come up in the last one year, have been lacklustre. I don't think there's any show I said no to, that's gone ahead and become a raging hit.

After Time Bomb, why did you take up a short assignment with B P Singh's CID?
I had heard tell about B P Singh's reputation of being a hard taskmaster, a guy who doesn't let anyone get a word in! But when I met him, I realised that he was a much misunderstood man! He gave me so much importance, inspite of being such a stalwart in the television industry...he was good enough to tell me that he wants me on that show.
In normal circumstances, I probably would not have taken up such a project...but it was B P Singh, and the production house functioned very differently, and then it was a show that had been running for eight years!
I also wanted to know for myself whether I would be able to make a difference to the show....and I think I survived, and managed!

Wasn't it a completely different experience, not playing a lover boy image, both in Time Bomb and CID?
I think I have always got more than what I deserve. People have been overly kind to me, and that's why I want to experiment and want to prove it to myself that I deserve what I get. I think it explains why I am not frivolous in my
career, and take my time to make decisions.

There was talk that you would be working in another big serial with B P Singh. Was that about Akela?
I would love to work with the Fireworks team again. After working with CID, I was very comfortable with the entire team. But that doesn't mean I would work on just any concept. Akela is a brilliant concept, and I really hope it works, but I just couldn't see myself doing a supernatural thriller. Someday, in the future we will work together on a project we both love.

Why then did you take up these two projects?
Hosting a show is a big challenge for me. It wasn't in my plan of things. But when I saw the American episodes of the show, I wanted to be there - where the anchor was! As a third person, I saw myself doing a lot of things....and that gives me a huge kick! To be in the spotlight always, is not something very easy....let's see....I will soon realise how good or how bad I am

As far as Left, Right, Left goes, I want to work with people who will help me grow in life (Tony and Deeya Singh). It's a daily soap, but not the typical saas bahu type. I play an armyman in the show. Since I have decided to do more TV, I opted for a daily soap that would please my fans too!

Wouldn't your critics carp about your comeback show being on Sab TV?
I really don't believe in the monopoly of the big channels. I know it's a safer bet if you work with the bigger channels, but the bigger challenge is to work on the smaller channel that's just coming up, and make it work. Secondly, nothing from the big channels offered to me in the last six to eight months has really gone and become a super hit. All the programmes that are surviving are the ones that have been around for three years or more! I have to make a choice, and more than the channel, I believe in the makers of a show.

The first narration excited me....I am a guy who follows his instints...I loved the concept in the first go.

Is it an action oriented role?
Not at all...it's purely driven by emotions. It's got nice interesting characters as well. Shweta Salve has been finalised as one of the leads.

You are also doing a soap with Aamna Shariff?
We are just shooting a pilot, even the channel hasn't yet been finalised. The pilot is yet to be completed.

Is there a pattern to your appearances on shows that have been on Sony, or Sab...which again is a Sony sibling?
It's been a coincidence that most of my recent appearances have been on Sony. And when I was told Deeya and Tony's new show too would be on Sab, I thought....thought for a day, in fact. Because I knew there would be critics ready to say that I took it up as I wasn't getting work on any other channel....
But then, it doesn't really matter to me, and I am happy doing what I am doing. Eventually, I am answerable only to myself.

What about films?
I have met a lot of filmmakers, read a lot of good scripts. Unfortunately, all the concepts I liked are still pending. And unfortunately, most makers want me to launch their film, whereas ideally I would like them to launch me! So, you see, I am waiting for the correct launch..
I knew that if I have to survive in films, my first film will be crucial for me. Maybe that's why, till the end of this year, I don't see films happening to me.

So I decided to continue with television. In fact, I was never going to say bye to TV, because I had already signed something on. I won't run after films, if I am destined to do films, I will!

How have you used your time in the last six months?
Hmm, I have been gymming, indulging in a lot of adventure sports. I have lost weight. I have always been big into sports, and in the last five months, I have been catching up on tennis and squash big time, also did a lot of swimming and jogging - things I really care for, but never had the time for!

I also used the time for travelling extensively, both in India and abroad. I spent a lot of quality time with my parents, went river rafting with them and my aunts too!

Did your parents egg you on to cut short your break?
I guess they reacted like any normal parents would. The question I have answered the most in the last six months is, "When do we see you again on TV?" I didn't know how to handle it, because I didn't want to do something just to please them. I guess all actors go through this, if they have to follow their heart!

I guess you have always been a rebel of sorts at home....
(laughs) Don't know if I can call myself a rebel, but I think my parents know that eventually I do what I want to do. And they respect me for it. So, they have stood by me and answered people's queries by saying that if you want to see Rajeev again, they would just have to wait some more!

Now, of course, they are feeling much, much better, and they have the answers to all those people....
The good thing about all this was that people wouldn't tell my parents that 'Rajeev is missing from TV' but that 'we are missing Rajeev on TV'. I think that's important.

Do your parents also want to know when you are getting married?
Umm, they don't really ask me that any more. Yes, my younger brother got married last year. But my parents know that whenever marriage has to happen to me, it will.

Is that happening in the near future?
In the near future, no. Of course, this is life, and you never know what might happen when.

Several factors drive people from this industry to astrologers and numerologists. When will we see you adding an 'e' or an extra 'r' to your name ?
Never. I just don't believe in these things. You will never catch me consulting anyone on my future or changing my name, ever. Sanjay Jumaani is a very good friend, and every time we meet, I tell him, "Don't tell me anything," and he says I don't need to, either!

I don't think all these things make a difference. I believe in karma, I believe that you are responsible for your actions. Destiny wants me to get something, I will.

So, what's this 'Deal...' that life has handed to you?
Deal... is an extremely simple game. I am not even the anchor, I am what can be described as a 'madaari'! I am just making the contestants play the game. Not even the referee, my presence just helps them know the pros and cons, and in which direction they are going.

I wish I had some more time to get comfortable with the idea, but I don't. I begin shooting on 20 April. I am not comfortable with that too, yet, but somewhere in my heart I know, that when the camera turns on me and the first participant, we both are going to enjoy the game!

Considering you are not a mercenary yourself, won't it be difficult convincing people to go in for the higher amounts?
That's the fun part of it. I would want to be part of their happiness, and taking them towards it. There will be a lot of people winning money, and a lot of people losing it too. I am going to be very fair and neutral and I am going to be with them. Obviously, it gives me a lot of pleasure to see other people grow.

One last question. What about Aamna?
Aamna....umm, suddenly I think of a very beautiful girl. We are extremely good friends, we meet often. I did all I could to help in setting up her new house recently.

I don't know if the onscreen chemistry we share is really something, or made up by people after I left the serial. I would love to go back to the episodes and really sense all that!
I think I became far more popular after I left the show, because people missed that chemistry between us.