“Don’t think I’m Odd, I’m an Example' :TB article

Say I don't know you. Then how would you picture yourself to me?
Umm…a cute poster boy…

So far has life turned out the way you wanted it to?
Yes…it's been great!

Do you think Splittsvilla was a perfect break for you?
Well, I don't know if it was perfect. But it was definitely unexpected and it helped me a lot. It got me noticed!

How has the transition from Splittsvilla to Mitwa been?
Wonderful! I've been enjoying each and every moment of it.

When is your entry in Mitwa?
Well, I've been shooting for it for quite a while now and I think my entry is fixed tentatively, around next week.

Tell us about your character.
Well, my character Birju is a very lovely guy. He has grown up in a village but has completed his education from the city. The only reason he comes back to the village is because he loves his mom a lot and wants to stay with her. He is someone I think pretty much everyone would find affable.

How does it feel when you are in your character's shoes?
At first it was very difficult to fit in my character's shoes. But then we had some workshops and classes which got me the hang of being Birju. And now I can be pretty comfortable playing Birju.

Does your character relate to you anyhow?
Yes, Birju is very innocent and helpful. Plus, he has an impending love story. So these two issues make me relate to him.

How can you relate to a love-story?!
Haha…you can say because of my Splittsvilla experience.

Your show deals with casteism. Your take on the caste system.
It's a very delicate issue, I'd rather not comment on it.

What measures can be taken to eradicate the caste system in our country?
I think it all depends on the people's mindset. If everyone's thinking changes, and all of us start treating each other equally, there would be nothing remaining of caste.

You pursued education in fields like management and business. So what made you change your focus to arts? Is it the fame?
I actually wanted to be an actor right from the beginning. But I also knew that management skills prove useful no matter in which field you are. But if you think the path I've chosen is odd, then I'd like to tell you, that I'm setting an example. It's that no matter what you study you can always become an actor.

Tell us about your whole 'stay light' ideology.
It's just that life always comes up with new experiences. But no matter what kind of experiences they are, try to learn from them and make the better of it. Try to be a new person everyday. Wake up with a fresh spirit every morning!

Is there a dream role for you or any director in particular that you'd like to work with?
I would like to portray each and every character that I take up, as if it's my dream role. And Mani Ratnam is one director I would love to work with.

Your blog page is a great disappointment to your fans…
Really?! Why?

There's not much of content. They wish you would share more with them.
Ahh! What to do yaar? I'm so pressed for time. But I promise all my fans that whenever I get the time I will definitely write something for them.

Are you so pressed for time, you can't afford to have a girlfriend?
(laughs) Yeah, you can say that. Working in a tele-serial keeps me so busy I just can't take time out for keeping up with a girlfriend.

Courtesy: I-F Telly Buzz