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'When you risk nothing, you risk everything'

Exploring the new realms with an added bounce to every step, Rajeev
Khandelwal is surely going places

Reetu Joshi/Times News Network

From documentary film making to modelling and acting, you have
definitely come a long way…
Yes, and believe me it has been an enriching experience. I made a
couple of docudramas (nearly 35) on subjects like child labour, women
labour and the army; did a few ads, got noticed and was signed for a
small appearance in a serial.

Do you remember your first shot in front of the camera?
My first shot was with the very talented and senior Rohini Hattangadi
for the serial Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeekat, and my mind was completely
blank. I don't recollect anything about that shot. But, I guess I
must have performed well, as after that, I got the offer for a lead
role in Kahin to Hoga from the same production house.

Did you always aspire to be an actor?
Yes. Though I hailed from an army background, I fantasised about
being an actor. But when I reached college I gave it up considering
it to be rather whimsical. But destiny had other plans I guess.

Aren't you trying your hand at films?
Well, I am getting plenty of offers but nothing has excited me so
far. When the co-stars are good, the script is not appealing or vice
versa. If I get a good opportunity, I am going to be all for it.

Do you think that after TV actors like Amarr Upadhyay failed in
Bollywood, other small screen stars are fearing films?
No. If there is an Amarr Upadhyay, there is also a Shah Rukh Khan.
And, I absolutely admire Amarr for trying his best..

At the peak of your career with KTH, you gambled and accepted an
offer for Time Bomb. Was that a big risk?
I believe that 'If you risk nothing, you risk everything'. It was a
big banner and I am proud that they selected me for the role. I
worked with a top director, Ketan Mehta, and have definitely
benefited from this experience. With Deal Ya No Deal, where there was
no readymade script and spontaneity was required. I learnt to act and
react instantaneously. At least I am happy that I got the
opportunity. Not many actors are lucky that way. Anuraag is still
only recognised as Anuraag. I don't want to stuck with one image.

Is your character in your latest show Left Right Left inspired by
Shah Rukh's character in Main Hoon Naa?
The backdrop of military life is the same. And I play captain
Rajveer. The only similarity is that my character doesn't wear
uniform like Shah Rukh's character.

Do you feel insecure about the cutthroat competition everywhere?
Where is the competition? I am the reigning king! Well, jokes apart,
I have confidence in myself, and try to live up to my own
expectations.

And, Aamna…
Hmmm… I haven't met her for 25 days now…

So, you are even counting days…
Oh! Aamna and I are just 'good friends'.


BOx: Quick-fire: You favourite…
Actor: Amitabh Bachchan
Director: Yash Chopra
Movie: Shakti
Colour: Black
Perfume: Allure from chanel
Style mantra: Originality
Co-star: …hmm…still waiting for that one
Accessory: My watch
Define success: Success is in one's head
Book: Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Celeb house arrest

If you could bring back one show, which would you pick?
F.R.I.E.N.D.S. The show had an amazing cast with unmatched comic timing.

If you could play any character from a show, who would it be?
A forensic scientist from C.S.I or a cop from Beverly Hills 90210.

Who's your TV buddy?
My dog, Dino. I also watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S with my brother, Sharvil.

Your first TV crush?
David "Baywatch" Hasselhoff in Knight Rider, a show that ran in the mid 80s. He played a modern-day crime-fighting "knight", who drove an advanced car with artificial intelligence.

Which films would you choose for a night-in?
Romantic comedies starring Ben Stiller, such as Meet The Parents, There's Something About Mary or Meet The Fockers.

As told to Kasmin Fernandes

Deepraz Rana admires Rajeev

The television industry is not really known for it's generosity for others, so it comes as a pleasant surprise when an actor praises another. Deepraz Rana aka Major Nair of Left Right Left feels that Rajeev Khandelwal is not only a good actor but also has a knowledge of direction and production. "Rajeev is extremely popular. Whenever I meet people who know that I am doing Left Right Left, they ask me about him. I feel he is the most popular star on television," says Deepraz. Seems like Sujal's popularity doesn't seem to be fading. What say Sujal… errr..Rajeev?

Aparna welcomes Ganpati Bappa
By: Tushar Joshi
August 26, 2006

Aparna Tilak with husband Amod For the last 12 years, Aparna Tilak (from SAB's Left Right Left) has been worshipping a panchdhaatu idol of Lord Ganesha. However, the actress has given up bringing home a clay idol for the last five years, making way for a metal statue instead. "I stay near the sea face and watching the condition of the beach every year makes me sad. People throw so much garbage into the sea along with the idols that they don't realise the amount of damage they are causing to the environment," she says. Year-long pooja The actress now hosts the lord at her house for a period of one-and-a-half day. "We usually have the idol at my husband Amod's clinic. But during the festival, we bring it home, worship it and then take it back to the consulting room in his clinic," she says. According to Aparna, this not only a better way to celebrate the festival but it also lets her keep the Ganesha idol with her throughout the year. "I absolutely love the festival and stand outside my gate watching the idols going to their mandaps on the first day. In fact, I try and catch as many glimpses of the idols as I can over the 10 day celebrations. I visit the one in Parel, then the big one at Lalbaug and also stand in line to visit the one at Nana Patekar's house that has beautiful floral decorations." Sai Baba's devotee Recently, the actress had an experience that she can't get over. "There's a small Sai Baba temple near my house and I'm a devout follower. That day, there was buzz about Sai Baba drinking milk, so I went and tried to see if it's real. To my surprise, it actually happened. I am a believer of science, yet such things are unexplained." Aparna and Amod are waiting to bring home their beloved Lord over the coming weekend. "I love the food, the music and everything about the festival. I can't wait to sing Ganpati Bappa Morya."

Love is in the air

Rajeev Khandelwal gifts an autographed copy of his interview to an airhostess

Recently, Rajeev Khandelwal made a lasting impression on an airhostess. The actor was returning from Jaipur to Mumbai on a Jet Airways flight on Saturday when the in-flight airhostess was floored by his presence and gave him extra attention.

"There were few passengers on that particular flight. The airhostess recognised Rajeev and was pleasantly surprised to see him. She couldn't help herself from giving him extra attention and even expressed her admiration for him," says our source. And Rajeev reciprocated with an autographed copy of a newspaper article that featured him.

"Actually, Rajeev was reading that article. And seeing the airhostess's sincere admiration for him, he gifted her the newspaper article after he had autographed it. The airhostess was touched for she had a gift she could treasure all her life," adds the source. When contacted, Rajeev didn't deny the incident but refused to comment.

"Did I hear Rajeev is arrogant?"
By: Tushar Joshi
August 26, 2006


Best of the rest: Rajeev Khandelwal

The moment The Karismatic Khandelwal enters the TV sets, girls go crazy and guys go jealous. No one can still point out that what exactly is the pulling force towards him! But, the darker side to this personality was said to be his arrogance and high-handedness on sets. His starry tantrums and proud that kept him always aloof from the rest of his co-stars.

Here's Mid-Day's special report based on a survey, held amongst his latest co-stars to find out the truth behind the most controversial topic i.e. The Khandelwal effect.

"I love working with him"

The sultry, seductive: Shweta Salve

One of the hottest women of Indiantelevision is really impressed with her current co-star. "Rajeev is a fun-loving person and is the best actor around. I'm really impressed by him as a person and as an actor, I'd give him infinite points." explains this dusky beauty. On being asked to define The Khandelwal effect, she laughs, "This effect is really dominating on sets and we love spending our shooting hours under this spell. I just love working with him."

Her take on media writing ill about Rajeev, "Oh that's disgusting! I too opined of him as arrogant but you have to meet him to believe that he is one of the sweetest in the business."

"He's a big flirt!!!"

Cutie-pie: Aparna

"He's extremely adorable to work with. He is obviously a really good actor but will be a better comedian because his sense of humour is really great. He can even fly-off the seriousmost situation in laughter." tells Appu, this is what she is apparantly called on the sets.

"Oh, he's a big flirt!!! But a real big secret is that even my hubby doesn't mind him flirting with me, maybe because he knows him well by now. Rajeev can actually turn anyone in his favour!" We wonder if he's a magician or something!

"Did I hear Rajeev is arrogant?"

The pyaari Priyanka

Now here we have the latest sizzle on tube who prefers acting deaf to such rumours, "Did I hear Rajeev is arrogant? Well, we don't mind b'cause that person himself would've been mindless."

"Rajeev is really nice person and I enjoy all scenes with him. It's nothing special but a happy feeling comes when you look at that cute face. I really respect him a lot as an actor (though her favourite is Varun Badola) as well as a person." Adds Priyanka who was trying. Rajeev's jackets and doing a fashon-show kind of thing in front of the appauding cast when we reached the sets.

"I was a KTH viewer"

The top Tapori: Arjun Bijlani

Arjun has really gone into the core of Alekh and the same can be realized by the style in which he praised Rajeev, "Apun ko vo chikna pehle se ich full-to mast lagta hai. Set pe vo kabhi kabhar chokrilog ke sath naatak karta hai par apun ke sath baut ache se pesh ata hai, darta ahi naa, kahiin apun ne uske vaat laga de to?"

Listening to that, even Rajeev would have gone crazy but here comes what Arjun has to say, "I was a regular viewer of KTH and am a big fan of his. My mom too loves him! My respect for him has grown after working with him. He especially went to meet my mom at the house which made her very happy."

"Oh man! He is too good."

Mr. Confused: Kunaal Kapoor

"The Khandelwal effect is overpowering. We have a great time on sets when he is around. All the groundsmen are really happy with him too. And Manish Sir (The editor) favours him the most. Oh man! He is too good."

Though we didn't require any further explaination, Kunal expresses his misery, "I haven't shot any exclusive scene with him which I'm dying for. Priya (Priyanka Bassi) keeps teasing us on that because amongst the cadets, she has the maximum scenes with him, lucky girl!!!" We hope Tony and Deeya are listening to Kunal's plea.

"Banda ye bindaas hai!!!"

The raja of flirts: Vikas Manaktala

Visiting the sets of this latest wavewalker on television, we surely realized why the serial is doing so well. The characters live off-screen as well. Vikas stands for us as the proof saying, "Are poochna he tha to kisi hot chhori ka number poochte. Rajeev kaisa hai vo to us se baat karke pata chal he jayega na aapko! Nahi pata chala to meri mummy se pooch lena, vo Kahiin To Hoga dekhti thi naa!!!"

We literally had to request him to stop but he still didn't, "Huda says, banda ye bindaas hai and Vikas says hats-off to you Rajeev."

"It's a real pleasure"

The Adorable: Harshad Chopraa

By now, the ill-wishers of Rajeev must have got enough material to stuff their exaggerating mouths but still there's more to go, "I think those who write all this have a lot of spare time to spend hours over thinking ill of a extremely warm person. I never ever felt I was working with a big star till my girlfriend clearly stated that if I didn't arrange her meeting with Rajeev, she'll kill me" He laughs.

Now this kind of a blackmail must be a commen lingo with the
girlfriends of Rajeev's male co-stars. What say?

"He has such a adorable smile"

The mobile girl: Ghazal Rai

"So finally you asked my opinion!!!" grins Ghazal who was jumping restlessly to comment on her latest crush "Don't you think he is really cute. His smile, gestures everything is just so sweet." Since we were willing, she added, "I wish to have a lot of scenes with him in the future b'cause acting with him is so much fun!!!"

When asked about The Khandelwal effect, "Better call it The
Khandelwal magic! And if other girls can go ga ga over him, why can't I???" We preferred to stay quiet and came back smiling.

Shveta looks up to J-Lo for jig tips

The actress has been doing her homework for Sony's Jhalak Dikhla Jaa by watching dance movies
Tushar Joshi
tushar.joshi@mid-day.com

One thing Shveta Salve wants to make clear is that she isn't a trained dancer. There has been buzz among her rival participants about how Salve is turning out to be a tough competitor thanks to her formal training. "I don't know who started this rumour, but I have not been to any dance school in my life. I love dancing but have never been coached to dance."
Old friend
Interestingly, Shveta is happy about that fact that her choreographer Longinus is an old friend. "I have never worked with him, but have known of him for a long time. We know each other through a common friend, so its fun to be rehearsing with him."
The practice
Now that she's a part of the competition, Shveta wants to make sure she is well equipped to face her challengers. "Besides having a good time, I know that this is a serious show, so I obviously want to give my all to it." As a part of her preparation for the contest she is revisiting some of her favourite dance movies. "I love watching Dirty Dancing, Fame, and Shall We Dance? There's so much you can watch and learn." Apart from watching movies, Shveta is also reading books and surfing the Internet to get some background on the dance forms. "I didn't know what the waltz or the cha-cha-cha was, until I started my rehearsals. Every form is different from the other. It's a challenge to be able to master all of them."
On the work front, Left Right Left is keeping her busy. "Its fun working on the show, and am happy with the response it is getting."