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Actor Vivan Bathena, who was last seen in 'Kumkum' (Star Plus) is all set to enter 'Maayka' (Zee) as the suave photographer Shabd. His character is supposed to reflect attitude and hence the creative team decided upon shooting his introductory scene showing him step out of his swish sports car.

The production unit had arranged for a car but it didn't arrive on the sets at the last minute. The unit was hassled over getting a car at a short notice until Vivan offered to use his personal car, a Toyota MR2. Vivan says, "I didn't mind using my car for the shoot. The unit had deadlines to meet and we couldn't wait for another car to be arranged."

But how does Vivan, a model turned actor have a penchant for sports car? Vivan laughs as he replies, "My father and my uncle are former professional bike racers. I have
grown on the tracks literally! I too love racing although I didn't take it up professionally. But I take part in the speed run every year and have won several awards in the 'under 2000 cc' category." Racing apart Vivan also takes interest in film watching and its making. He owns about a thousand DVDs of some of the best films. "I intend to make a film some day," he says.

But, what about his primary occupation, modelling? "I have given it up. I don't find it intellectually stimulating. I am interested in acting on television at the moment. I believe there is a proper time for every thing one does in life and I think I have passed the stage of modelling," he shares.

So what did he like about his character Shabd and how does the rather queer name signify his character? "It's a classy character. He keeps his conversations short and crisp as he often says, 'Shabd, naam hi kaafi hai (the name is enough)'."

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Vivan says: "For the introduction shot they required a sports car but on that day some technical problems occurred so shooting couldn't take place. The next time they asked me to use my sports car and I agreed. I'm more comfortable with my car. I am habitual to driving my car. It looks good as well so there was no problem in using it. I mean why not? I have a Toyota MR2. It's a 1988 model and it's red in colour. I bought the car three years ago from someone who owned it in Mumbai. It looks like a mini Ferrari for me. It's like poor man's Ferrari or my version of the Ferrari if I would have one. Maybe one day I'll buy the real one but right now this is good enough for me."

Vivan provided his own car free of cost for the shoots saying, "I wouldn't charge them for something so silly. I would not like to discuss the money aspect for the car and other stuff. I have only one sports car. But hopefully down the line I'll have more."

The actor can't stop gushing about his 'mini-Ferrari'
"I like everything about my car! I like the way it looks, the way it sounds and the way it drives. I like to feel its speed. That is an adrenaline rush."

Vivan is possessive of his 14 lakh car
"It has facilities which every normal car has. If I want to go from one location to the other it gets me faster; that is all. It's different from any other sports car because of its looks. It's vintage- a classic. It reflects one's attitude and shows how that person is passionate about cars. It's a difficult car to maintain because parts are not easily available but some way down the line you have to be passionate about it.

I'm very possessive about my car. Nobody else drives my car except me. I don't mind people touching my car as long as there is no harm done to it. I have it polished it once a week. I do a routine maintenance of my car myself- small mechanical jobs here and there I can take care of myself. I always have my toolkit and my music there. My girlfriend was the first person to sit in my car."

Racing is in his blood
"I have a passion for racing since my childhood. My family from my dad's side was majorly into racing. My dad's brothers are into racing. He participated in the MRF team and in they won the Malaysian Grand Prix and stuff like that. Ashley and Cherry Bathena are their names. I have literally grown up on the track. I have always had a passion for speed. Earlier I could never have supported it financially because motor sport is the most expensive professions. Now that I have the ability to fulfill some of my ambitions I can go ahead with it."

About his role in Maayka
"I'm playing the character of Shabd Sareen who is a rich photographer from the UK. He is like a breath of fresh air in the show. He takes things very lightly and is very good at his job. He is admired by everyone around him and women especially love him. That reflects in his attitude; in the way he speaks with women. He finally comes across Neha Bamb's character Mahi and in her he finds something different. It is something he has never encountered in the past women as he was used to women drooling all over him. Mahi is different and that's the factor which attracts him. It's a lead role in Maayka right now. It's going to be a hero's role. We shot about two episodes and we'll finish couple of episodes by the end of this week."

Vivan is also playing the lead role of Druv in Kumkum. He played an important role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as well as many other serials. Vivan won the title of Grasim Mr. India in 2001 before he moved on to serials.

Monday, April 30, 2007

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This model-turned-actor accepts that he has been lucky in the television industry. Vivan Bhatena was the winner of 'Gladrags Mr. India in 2001' and has not looked back since then.

After his appearance in Falguni Pathak's music video- 'Maine Payal Hai Chankai', Vivan became a heart throb.

Earlier seen in serials like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' as Abhishek, 'KumKum' as Dhruv and Zee TV's weekly show 'Time Bomb', Vivan is all set to make his entry into another Zee daily, 'Maayka'.

This time he will be playing a character named Shabd Sareen and will be Neha Bamb aks Maahi's love interest. "I play an NRI who is flamboyant yet suave. I have now returned to India to live with my family but my attitude is the same and has not changed" informs Vivan. He is a photographer with a lot of attitude and falls in love with Maahi at the first sight.

That's not all; Vivan will be using his own sports car for his introduction shot. "Yes the director wanted to use a car which suits my personality so I suggested that I used my car" says Vivan. He is the proud owner of this flashing red Toyota sports car for a few years. Though he is possessive about his car, he is willing to use it for the shot.

Cool dude cool car, what say!

We got hold of Vivan, who is busy working around the clock, and managed to get an insight of his new character in Maayka. " I've just joined the show, and by now I feel that it's the most pleasant unit to work with, we have a really nice creative team there. The channel and the team were very interested in my character, and they wanted me to bring out the best . They are helping me a lot, and I too am slogging and working hard, we're trying to achieve great lengths and make sure the character does very well, and the audience already loves Shabd a lot. I know Shabd will do well, and in the next six months, It will be the word of street."
We too wish Vivan the very best for Shabd, and hope it does well. Well friends, that's not all, Vivan has a special messages for all his fans at IF - "Please continue to support me and watch me, I love all your fan mails, I am sorry I haven't been able to keep in touch and reply to your mails and messages, I stay alone, so I'm busy trying to get everything done. If I'm not shooting, I'm at home sleeping or working, so it does become difficult to find time to get on to the computer. Thank-you for all your support and continue to watch the show, and if there is any feedback back for me, please do drop in an e-mail."

Stay tuned to Zee TV to catch the sizzling Vivan Batena charm his way on the show and into our hearts.

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