Showtime Interview with Gautam Rode!

"THERE'S NOTHING ROMANTIC BETWEEN NIGAAR (KHAN) AND ME. SHE'S JUST A BUDDY"

WOMEN KNOW HIM AS THE ADORABLE

ANISH FROM BAA, BAHOO AUR BABY AND THE VERY HUNKY LUCKY FROM LUCKY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GAUTAM RODE, WHO'S ALWAYS BEEN AWAY FROM THE MEDIA GLARE. NOT BECAUSE HE IS NOT MEDIA FRIENDLY, BUT BECAUSE HE LIKES KEEPING HIS LIFE AS PRIVATE AS POSSIBLE, UNLIKE OTHER TELE-ACTORS, WHO HANKER FOR PUBLICITY. TOUTED AS ONE OF THE CUTEST YOUNGSTERS ON THE SMALL SCREEN TODAY, HERE'S A ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE MEDIA SHY GAUTAM.

A typical Delhi Punjabi boy, Gautam greets you with a warm smile and a firm handshake. He started off as a model with an ad campaign for Close-Up, which did pretty well and gave him a lot of offers. But Gautam didn't cash in on it, because he did the campaign while still in his second year of college in Delhi. "I wanted to complete my graduation before I came to Mumbai for a few more modelling assignments."

So how did he finally get here? "After I finished my graduation, I thought I would come to Mumbai for about six months, do a few assignments and go back to Delhi. And then maybe work as a stockbroker because my father was a stockbroker too. But as luck would have it, when I actually went back in six months, I learnt that my father had sold his ticket and retired. I didn't have anything to do, so I decided to join the Company Secretariat & Law course.

After the first semester I left, because I realized that it was not my cup of tea. I decided to continue with modelling in Mumbai and finally landed here. I've never planned anything, but once I came here, there was no looking back. Call it my luck or destiny, but as soon as I came back to Mumbai, I was offered many commercials like Center Fresh, Clinic shampoo, Toyota, Coke etc. These assignments actually kick-started my career."

Those were the modelling days. How did acting eventually happen? "I just didn't think about becoming an actor. The thing with commercials is either you get a few, or you don't get them at all. And you certainly cannot survive only on commercials. That's when I started doing one-hour episodics like Rishtey. It was after this that the acting bug bit me and I finally found my calling."

Ads and serials were followed by his advent into Bollywood. Unfortunately, he wasn't too 'lucky' as far as the big screen is concerned. "It wasn't like that," he disagrees. "I did a film called Annarth and waited for it to take off for nearly two years. But it never really did. During that time, I did a lot of music videos. And then mainstream television happened. I did Baa, Bahoo Aur Baby and now I am also doing Lucky and Paraya Dhan (which is ending soon). So basically it was a gradual transition. I got some film offers but none suited me. And honestly, I didn't get too many. As of now, I am really happy doing television. It gives me all the creative satisfaction that I need."

Ask him about being famous with the kids for his character Lucky, and he laughs and says, " Is that so? And if it is, it's great. I enjoy doing Lucky, because it is full of comedy and action. Two things I simply love doing as an actor."

He's done a lot of different work on television, but he's never done a show with the biggest production house of them all, Balaji Telefilms. Any particular reason? "I'd absolutely love to work with Ekta (Kapoor). She deserves all the accolades and success she has got, because her serials are great and have mind-blowing TRPs. And that is what actually works on television today. So if I do get a good offer, I would definitely take it up. I'd be a fool to say I don't want to work with Ekta."

In an industry, where friendships and relationships are discussed on a daily basis, Gautam has never been in the news for his affairs, break-ups or even casual friendships. Forget people knowing that television actress Nigaar Khan and he are fast friends; nobody even knew that their friendship had gone sour in the middle. "I am very good friends with her, and there is nothing like our friendship has gone sour. We do fight but our fights are temporary. They don't last long. All friends fight, I think it is pretty normal. I know Nigaar since almost six years now; she was my first friend in Mumbai. It is all good between us. We are still very close."

So is there anything of the romantic sort brewing between the two, "Not at all," he says, refuting the link-up. "Are you mad? There's nothing romantic between us. I can't even think of her in that manner. She's just a buddy."

Considering that there is so much competition today, does he have any other good friends besides Nigaar in the industry?

" Yes I do. I am close to Wasim, who's currently directing Mano Ya Na Mano and Four. Gauri (she plays Krishna), who is my co-star in Paraya Dhan, is a good friend and so is Rahil Azam (of Hatim fame). I get along with most of the people I work with and don't usually get into fights. If I don't like someone or something, I say it. I don't believe in keeping grudges for too long. But I'm still closest to Nigaar and Wasim. I have never worked with any of the Balaji people so I don't know any of them."

On the personal front, another unknown fact about Gautam is that he was dating Savyna, a contestant in the Channel [V] Veejay Hunt this year. "Yes I was dating her," he says, finally admitting to a link-up. Savyna is a nice girl but it didn't work out for us. So we mutually decided to part ways."

So, is he seeing someone at present? "Currently, I am in a relationship with someone, who I would not like to name." And are we going to hear wedding bells very soon? "Marriage is not on my agenda. As of now, I am very much in love and serious about the relationship. I'm serious about all my relationships. But I need to settle down a bit more, build myself more in life to think about marriage."

Gautam seems quite private about his personal life. And even otherwise, prefers to stay away from the media, and even parties and social functions. "I am not a very party person. And I am not a socialite. I am very bad at my own PR. Somehow I don't believe in it, what should I talk about – what I wear, where I go, what my dog eats? A lot of people do it and I have nothing against them, but I just think it's weird. Why would you want to talk about your dog, cat, clothes, and drinks?

A lot of people do it because they believe they can get more work if they are constantly in the news. But I personally feel if you're good and you have luck on your side, then you will get work. Your work should speak for itself. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and its completely okay if people want to do their own publicity for work. That is just something I will not do. It's just not me."

Considering Gautam does not run around for publicity all the time, he must have a lot of free time on his hand. So what occupies his leisure? "I like working out, it's something I enjoy a lot. Right now, I have a slight back problem. So I haven't been able to work out properly at all. Besides that, I love watching movies, spending time with close friends, and when I can't make it to the theatre, I carry my DVD player to the sets and catch up on my favourite movies."

So what's next on the anvil for this Delhi boy? " Well, right now, I am thinking about doing more good work and maybe I'll sign a new show now. Talks are on for four-five shows, since Paraya Dhan is going off air soon. I don't plan anything in life. I take life as it comes and hope for the best," he says positively. Well, being an optimist is always a plus now, isn't it?