Article: Ram & Gautami_Abhi-Ash of Tv?!

Has your new-found success surprised you? It has, trust me. I had returned to tele- vision with Kasamh Se after three years..so far the response to my character, Jai Walia has been terrific. In February, I flew to Europe to attend the Zee Carnival. People drove in buses from Germany, France and Italy to see me..(laughs).. it was crazy. Some were waiting for me for six to seven hours. I felt so humbled. I had never thought I'd be so popular. Aren't you the highest-paid actor on Zee? (Ha ha) I don't know how much other actors are earning. I can bet there are better paid ones. The media has called your wife Gautami and you the Abhishek Bachchan- Aishwarya Rai of tellydom. (Laughs) Yeah, some press guys did call me to get my reaction to this. I was like, "Are we really the Abhi-Ash of TV?" Gautami and I laughed over. Honestly, we are just another couple..it's just that we are both actors. But you do have a Bachchan-like background..Sherwood school. Yeah, Mr Amitabh Bachchan studied in Sherwood boarding school.. so did I. Since you've reminded me of my school days, I have to tell you that those were the best years of my life. It was in school that I had my first tryst with acting. I learnt under Amir Raza Hussain saab, who directed me in my first play, Charlie's Aunt. And you went to the U S after you completed school. That's right. After Charlie's Aunt, I told myself, "Listen, I'm good at act- ing..so why not do it for the rest of my life?" The next step was finding admis- sion in an acting school in America. I went on to do a method acting course in Los Angeles. Not many know this..isn't Sudhir Mishra your mentor? Yeah, Sudhirji has been a constant support. Rahul Rawail (director) gave me a reference to meet him eight years ago. Sudhirji cast me in Nyay for Door- darshan. I've also acted for him in Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi and Kal. Why didn't he offer you a role in Khoya Khoya Chand? Ask him! In fact, he was on the jury of a television award function recently, where I picked up a trophy. "You truly deserve it," Sudhirji told me. When I asked him why he didn't approach me for Khoya.., he replied, "You are doing so well on TV. I don't want to destabilise the Ram Kapoor movement." We had a hearty laugh. Is Gautami playing Tulsi in Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi? (Reluctantly) I'm totally blank on this. She's been discussing a project with Balaji. If it is Kyunkii.. or something else, I don't know. Do you feel embarrassed when you look back at last year's 'Ram Kapoor is gay' controversy? I don't think about that at all. It was a joke between Naman Shaw and I played. There was press on the sets of Kasamh Se on that day..they were look- ing out for juicy gossip. I teamed up with Nanam to play a prank.. "He looks very good and I love him," I teased him before the press. The next day it became a headline. How did your family react? I'm very comfortable with my sexual- ity. The controversy has not bothered my family or me. I don't owe an expla- nation to anyone. shaikh.ayaz@hindustantimes.com