When success kills-Rajeev

Over the last six years the unprecedented success that Smriti Irani has enjoyed is because of just one show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. It is the case with Sakshi Tanwar as well. Her ticket to fame has been Kahani Ghar Ghar ki. Smriti and Sakshi have had such a fantastic ride to fame and fortune that one wonders whether the duo will ever be able to have a repeat run of such fabulous success in future. Without Kyunki and Kahani, Smriti and Sakshi will face an identity crisis just as Arun Govil did in post-Ramayan years.

Take the case of Ali Asghar. He has nothing to talk about except Kahani. It is the case with Mona Singh as well who became famous with her debut serial Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. Kiran Karmarkar as Om in Kahani was a popular television star. He has not been seen on TV ever since he quit the show seven months ago. Rajeev Khandelwal who played Sujal in Kahiin To Hoga has hardly been seen in a prominent role after he opted out of the show. Shweta Kwatra, Pallavi of Kahani, has kept herself busy with some non-happening shows after she walked out of the serial. Nobody has heard of Nausheen Ali ever since she quit Kkusum. Navneet Nishan of Tara fame has returned to TV after nearly a decade in the wilderness as character actor.

There are several such examples of actors – both from the old DD era as well as the satellite TV generation – whose career graph shot northwards with one show but had to bear the pain of a massive dip subsequently. Did they get too much success too soon? Or does excess success kill? "I feel a person has to be balanced in life. Jassi will never happen again, neither will all the name and fame it gave me.

Though people will always remember me for Jassi it is next to impossible to repeat that kind of success again," admits Mona Singh. According to Shweta, a lot of success too soon without much struggle can work negatively. "If it comes on a platter you don't realise its value and it becomes more difficult to reach those dizzy heights again," she feels.

Kiran Karmar has a little different take on the subject. He explains, "You can't expect all your shows to be equally successful. I played Om for five years and I had the choice to continue with the show till the end but I quit out of boredom and monotony. Ekta was willing to give me more money but I said no because I wanted to move on and take up a fresh challenge."

Apara Mehta, Savita of Kyunki, admits that shows like Kyunki happen once in many years. "It gave me everything from name, fame to fortune. It was a larger-than-life experience for me and I don't think whatever I do in future will match up to my popularity as Savita," admits the veteran stage actress. Navneet feels the same, "I have fond memories of Tara and the huge success it gave me. But I have moved on life and I know the Tara days will never return."

Ali Asghar says success is never permanent. "But it doesn't mean the end of your career if some shows don't do well," he says. "Some times a show may not be very popular but the role is very good. Kahani has given me a lot of success but my best role so far was in Itihaas, which wasn't noticed much because it was a DD serial." Acting is a profession that's fraught with lot of uncertainty. "It's a game of marketing. You got to sell yourself really well and make right choices," feels Asghar. Navneet says to be a successful actor you need the backing of a good production house. "I had no choice but to work for Balaji because it is currently the most happening place in the television industry," she adds.

In Shweta's opinion the choices you make really decide your present and future. "After doing Kahani for four years I didn't want to do dailies. I wanted to take things easy by doing weekly episodes and anchoring. But now I am keen on doing a daily but there are no good roles," she says. Mona Singh feels insecurity and pressure to maintain a certain standard in work and lifestyle is a part of success. She elaborates, "Success leads to a lot of expectations. And often it's very difficult to match up to people's expectations and maintain a steady career graph in a profession that is full of ups and downs." However, Shweta disagrees, "It all depends on an individual and the standard and mark you set for yourself."

But ultimately, as Rajeev Khandelwal says, it all depends on how an individual plays the game. He explains, "I want to play a long innings and play it in my own style. I want to learn as I go from one show to another and aim for a higher goal. Deal Ya No Deal was not a success. But I worked very hard on it, learnt a lot and enjoyed it immensely. I am always looking for growth by doing things that are classy and exciting." But not everyone has the choice of doing things his own way. Typecasting phenomenon often plays havoc with actors' careers. Arun Govil knows it too well. He played mythical God Ram in Ramayan for two years and remained in the wilderness for six years.

So strong was his identification with the bow-and-arrow-wielding God that he was forced to become a producer. "Nobody was ready to cast me in any role," recalls Govil. Call it the negative fallout of success or whatever the fact is success does kill. It can't defy nature's law of gravity. What goes up comes down.