‘I love to make people smile’ - Gaurav K

'I love to make people smile'

Small screen's rising star Gaurav Khanna talks to AT about his ride to fame, life beyond soaps and lots more

CHITRA UNNITHAN
Times News Network

Kanpur boy Gaurav Khanna travelled to Mumbai to pursue an MBA in marketing and ended up doing television. In town recently to take part in a fashion show where Gaurav confesses that being part of the glamour world has its highs. "Television has a mindboggling reach and will only get bigger now. Anybody who has dreams and the will to succeed will go a long way," he says confidently.

Gaurav who plays the main lead in Meri Doli Tere Angana, started doing commercials from his college days and went on to be a ramp model. "I took up modelling for pocket money. Then ramp modelling followed. My first TV show Siddhant happened while I was working as a marketing manager with a firm," he elaborates.

The fun loving prankster in Kumkum or the suave Ruhan of Meri Doli...which character does Gaurav really like? "I am very much an extrovert and sporty kind of a person. I love to make people smile. And I make sure they do so with my harmless pranks on the sets," he smiles.

While shooting a love scene for Meri Doli.. reportedly Gaurav had some mane trouble we hear? Mention it to him and you have Gaurav in splits. He explains, "Yes, there was this romantic scene to be shot and my co-star's wig kept coming off whenever I held her in an embrace. It was really hilarious. We laughed so much and would get out of the romantic mood."

This young actor already has an impressive fan following, but is there someone special in his life now? He quickly points out, "My kind of girl has to be fun loving, tall, brainy and needs to have a sense of humour."

A self-confessed fitness freak, Gaurav loves watching films and working (though not in the same order). "I make sure to take time out of my tight schedule to work out as I am a huge fitness addict. And whenever I get time I catch up with comedy movies and television shows," he says.

Life in Mumbai has been quite fulfilling for Gaurav so far. And he doesn't regret chucking up his blue collar job for television at all. "I used to lead a dual life initially with my corporate job and TV shifts. But subsequently I chose to follow what I enjoyed doing. There are a lot of opportunities out there and one shouldn't shy away from them. Just going with the flow with an honest heart has got me where I am today," he signs off.

Gaurav Khanna