Ashish Chowdhry Replies to his Fans Questions!
He is undoubtedly one of the most good looking and loved actor in Telly nagri. urlremoved got in touch with handsome and talented actor Ashish Chowdhry who was last seen as Raghav on Zee TV's Ek Mutthi Asmaan. On fans demand urlremoved gave the fans a chance to ask their favourite any question they want. Here's some of your questions answered by Ashish Chowdhry direct dil se...
Post Ek Mutthi Asmaan' what you been doing?
I had a certain commitment towards my work in terms of my business. I do have a security and advertising business. When you are in a daily soap it doesn't give you time for anything else. So I needed some time at my office and I'm also changing my residence, so it is really important that I took the time off, but nevertheless I'm in the progress of meeting a lot new producers. I have not known much about Television, the only people I knew were the people I worked with, when I started doing the show. I didn't know anyone from the TV industry as I was from films. But now I have understood more about the game and there are a bunch of people that I would like to work with.
What do miss the most about Ek Mutthi Asmaan'?
I actually miss the interaction I had with the fans about my show, of course the fans have not gone away or stopped the interacting, and I am very much active on Twitter. I call my Twitter family #Twamily, so we have a lot of interaction, but yes I miss being on screen as they miss me being on screen. But the point is that we have to move one, I felt in the show after they replaced Rachana Parulkar, that it was definitely a drastic step. It wouldn't look right if Raghav was in love with a girl who was in a different place all together. So it was important that I stepped out for a while, but unfortunately the TRP I have learned has fallen, and the show is soon going off air, according to what I have heard. Incidentally after the show I was so busy that I had no interaction with the producers, I guess the producers also had their own reasons for being busy. I was under a contract until November, but now obviously since the show is going off air, I can start picking up new shows after it ends.
Before the show was confirmed to end, rumors were making rounds that you were supposed to return back to the show?
I was pretty clear and I knew it wouldn't happen deep in my heart. I respect rules, law and contracts, so I am not supposed to say anything about this, as officially I'm not allowed to make any comments. The same time I'm still under contract, I can't deny them for having me on the show, at the same time I can show them my disappointment. Lot of times, you cannot make statements when you are under contract. So I chose to keep quiet and I want to let the producers talk. Of course Zee TV has tweeted a lot of times that Raghav will be back and fans shouldn't panic, but I guess before they could work out any kind of storyline, the TRP dipped. It was very apparent, because I think fans do determine the fate of a show. I kept telling the fans on Twitter, as they felt cheated and they wanted Raghav and Kalpi together. I kept telling them, that you will only determine what will happen on the show and that is exactly what has happened and the discontent was pretty much out there. My only thing is, if I was a producer or a channel, I would pay a lot of heat to what the fans have got to say.
Would you want to create your own production house?
I have been into production and advertising, I had my own production house, but I used to make Ad films, I have produced over 60-70 Ad films, I have directed around 20-25 Ad films. I was also nominated for the best director in the advertising awards, at that time I was 21 years old. After that I haven't got into production, but I do intend. But I feel that I should do it, when I have the time. What happens with all the actors is that they take it for granted, they feel that because they have the fund or can pull in the actors and directors, it will work. I don't want to do it like that. Out of my friends I really respect Riteish Desmukh, the way he has worked his way around as a producer. He worked on the Marathi market, he is now the most formidable producer in Marathi cinema. I think he did it the right way and set an example for me and I would do it the right way as well. But Television I don't think I will be able to produce for sure. When I am talking about production, I am only talking films. Television is a full time job, a film I can make and it will release in a year or a year and a half and I can take a break, but in Television, I can't act as well as run my business. I have tried to get into too many things at one time, I did realize at a time that I become a jack of all but a master of none. That's why I took a step back when I did my daily and only concentrated on my show.
Will fans see you in yet another TV show after Ek Mutthi Asmaan'?
Right now I am concentrating on stuff I had on hold. I would like to take up one more daily for sure, as I enjoyed doing a prime time show. I would love to do non-fiction, like hosting and all, as I started my career with Walt Disney; I was the first host of Walt Disney India. My next in films will be Total Dhamaal' after that my next will be in 2016 as in 2015 I want to do another daily. I will try and try and do whatever keeps me happy and whatever keeps my bank account rolling as now I am head of the family and I have kid and have to take care of all the aspects.
If got a chance would you want to work with Rachana Parulkar again?
I keep saying this so many times, whenever asked, that an actor is not in charge of anything to do with casting. I have never recommended anyone and I have never said no to work with anyone. I did come from films and it was Rachana Parulkar and Shirina Singh who was my heroines. I just took them as somebody who is acting with me and have never commented on whether they fit with me or not, but the way the response have been so good for Raghav and Kalpi that, yes I would love to work with Rachana again as that will make my Twamily happy and all the fans happy. But again if I am doing a show and the producers and casting director has chosen someone else, I am nobody to comment on that.
Do you watch your episodes of Ek Mutthi Asmaan' and any favorite episodes?
I watched all of them to be honest, as I feel it's a part of my job, to see what I am doing and if I am not doing it right, then for me to correct it. I used to record them and used to watch all of them. I enjoyed doing so many of them, but the particular episode which comes to my mind is the Holi episode, which I enjoyed. I find it really funny in TV when you integrate festivals. I find it funny, because I used to not know if it makes sense or don't make sense, as sometimes you do things forcefully in a script as it is a festival time, but it turned out to be a really good experience with the Holi festival.
Do you cook?
No, not at all, that is one thing I feel very bad about. I can do everything, but I can't cook and I wish I could cook, and I feel it is little late in life to start trying. I don't know how to make tea even, I have never tried it.
After entering TV, have you got any new friends?
Incidentally a few of them have already been friends with me before I entered into Television. Many of them I have worked with, like Yash Tonk I have done films with. Aamir Ali we have done a project together and Sanjeeda and Aamir have always been close friend of my family. VJAnusha and Sophie Choudhary are good friends, Mandira Bedi and her husband are very very close, we met few days back as well. I have a lot of friends from the TV industry before I got into TV. Sameer Soni, Rohit and Ronit Roy are good friends. Ram Kapoor has been a friend of mine for a longest time. Before I got into TV, I took some advice from Ronit, Aamir and Shabbir Ahluwalia. Karanvir Bohra and his wife have in fact looked out for my family in bad time. So there have been some great friends and I am very lucky when it comes to friends, I have some of the best friends. Unfortunately I haven't had much time for my friends as all I was doing for the past few months was working on Ek Mutthi Asmaan, so now I am catching up with all my friends.
If you were trapped in an island, what are the three things you wish to have with you?
My mobile phone for sure, lots of food and my Playstation (Laughs) Yes if there is no electricity then I would choose my family.
If you were offered Bigg Boss?
I get a chance every year. I have regretfully said no to them. It is a great show and I watch every episode of Bigg Boss and I record it. In fact I and my wife get happy when the season comes up as we have something great to look forward to, at the end of the day. But at the same time, I end up saying no to Bigg Boss. Because I am still not ready for this kind of format. I just feel audience enjoy people fighting or taking mimicry out of each other in a show like that. I don't want to be one of them as I don't want to do it, I'll actually land up being a little boring, because I'm the kind of human being who will never make fun of others and I don't fight. I will be a boring candidate and if I try to take out my bad side then it won't be me, so I would rather stay away from a show like that.
If offered a dance show?
Jhalak people and Nach Baliye people have offered me the shows, even as an actor in films I was offered the dance shows, before I did TV. But again I have not confident about dancing and I am not the best dancer. But now I may do the show, this year I was offered Jhalak and I promised them that I will do it next year, I don't know whether I will be able to keep up to the promise, because I get cold feet when it comes to dancing.
Lastly any messages for all your fans?
Friday I went to Ganpatti Mandir in Mumbai and fans were standing outside, I went up to the idol and I said Thank You, which I wish they all could hear. It is unbelievable for anybody in life to earn this kind of love they give you. So it is a big thank you, I feel it is very easy to find something at a point of time to return them, for them to wish you well is the most difficult part. I have just noticed one biggest thing in my fan base, Twamily or fan following that I have never received any negative tweet. We at Twamily decide not to be bad with anyone, and not to fight with anyone. I am just very lucky to have such a fan following and I would like to send my Thanks to everyone.
Writer: Nadia Malik.
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