Yash Tonk : Article

"DO YOU THINK I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TO PROPOSE TO A GIRL ON STAGE?"

THERE ARE SOME FACES AND SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU JUST DON'T TIRE OFF. EVEN WHEN THEY ARE AT TIMES, PART OF TWO DAILY SOAPS OR ARE PLAYING MULTIPLE ROLES WITHIN THE SAME DRAMA SERIES! SUCH A SENSE OF FAMILIARITY AND GRANTED PLEASANTRY IS ASSOCIATED WITH YASH TONK. WE HAVE SEEN HIS MANY FACETS THROUGH HIS ON-SCREEN CHARACTERS. HIS YOUNG, TEENAGE BOY APPEAL CHARMED US IN HIS DEBUT JUST MOHABBAT AS IT DID IN MTV'S KITNI MAST HAI ZINDAGI.

THE NAIL BITING THRILLER, KAHIIN KISSI ROZ PORTRAYED HIM AS KUNAAL SIKAND – THE RICH AND SUAVE BUSINESSMAN, ALONGSIDE AN IRONICALLY LOVABLE DOUBLE ROLE AS KULJEET, WHO WAS THE ILLITERATE, CRUDE VILLAGE MAN. NOW, HE HAS SHOULDERED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING THE NEW HUNK, SHIV, IN BALAJI'S KARAM APNA APNA. FROM TELEVISION TO FILMS AND NOW BACK TO THE SMALL SCREEN, I CHAT UP WITH YASH ON HIS CURRENT WORK, HIS FUTURE PLANS AND MORE…

Yash greets me with a smile and a little bit of apparent apprehension. Interviews tend to make people nervous, even if you don't necessarily have a controversy attached to your name. Then again, there are few who manage to remain controversy free. Yash has indirectly invited a few to his name. After the incredibly hot Iqbal Khan decided that he needed a breather from Balaji, Yash stepped into his shoes as Shiv in Karam Apna Apna. It has been over a year since the show first took off and Yash has had to battle it out from the moment that he stepped in.

He took on the challenge head on. Not only did he adopt the rugged stubble-clad look but also put on an earring. He admits, "The first week or two were difficult as the audience has to accept you. People get used to seeing a familiar face as their favourite character on screen. That was a little daunting as you, yourself have not become the character as yet. Then is all smoothens out when you have gotten into the skin of the character." He continues enthusiastically, "Working in Karam…is really a great experience. I am currently playing a double role and I am enjoying it. It is very stressful as I keep changing, getting into one character and then getting into the other and sometimes, both are there together. There is definitely a lot of hard work."

The fans have gradually caught on but the Iqbal Khan mania seems to have scarred the show considerably, and it's not just the TRPs giving proof. The show timings have been re-scheduled thrice. Yash is well aware of the silent implications made by such anxious measures taken in order to revive a show. He addresses the matter, as would a president to his nation – knowing exactly where he stands and what promises lie ahead. "Whenever timings are changed for a show, it is never a very healthy sign.

The primetime slot at 9.30 did wonders for the show when it took off. Due to Kaun Banega Crorepati, the show had to be re-allocated into the 8 pm timing which has never been a very strong slot for Star. Keeping in mind the general slackness of this time slot, the TRPs were satisfactory. Later on, they began with Antakshari for kids and re-shifted Karam… to an afternoon timing of 2 pm, which is likely to stay on now."

Yash has returned back to television after pursuing films for about two years. Has his movie career been nipped in the bud? "I had done a handful of films in the middle, while I had taken a break," he says. A recap of the films would be – Kucch Toh Hai, Ishq Vishk, Popkorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao, Julie, with the most recent one being Fight Club. He goes on to elaborate, "There is another film due to be released within a month called Teen, with Sohail Khan.

There are two more such films, which are due to be out soon. When I started Karam…I decided that this year I would stick to television. It has been a while now since I have been doing only films and could not take time out for television." Is television a preferred medium then? "My interest lies in good work. I will not do a movie just because it is a movie. Since always, I have chosen to do one show at a time. I do not like shuffling from one set to another. As for now, my focus is completely on Karam… especially since I am playing a main lead, and it takes up all of my time."

Working on TV or even working with Balaji, is no new experience for Yash. Listing out his profile, he says, "I have done about seven-eight shows for Balaji alone! Kahiin Kissi Roz, my main break, gave me a lot of recognition. For a while, I featured in Kasautii Zindagi Kay, and then there was MTV's Kitni Mast…, Kundali and now Karam…." The prominence of the sacred letter 'K' is testimony enough. You can safely rule out chances of him complaining that it is all too new for him in the television world and all of that.

Brawls on the sets or insecurities cropping up within co-stars are things that Yash has long left behind. "Working with everyone has been as good as always. You need to be comfortable with your co-actors wherever you work, and I have been in the industry for long enough. You come across people at various points in your career and have interacted with them at some level, somewhere, at some time. You know people around, whether you have worked with them or not."

As good as it is, to have been around a long while; this may as well be the reason for whirling up a stir. Especially when your show's protagonist is a young, chirpy Maharashtrian girl, and a relatively new addition to the industry. Pallavi Subhash, who stars opposite Yash, sure creates lasting impressions. From being spotted by Ekta Kapoor, to putting up a scandalous performance at a recent awards show, Pallavi is setting tongues on fire. Yash placidly replies, "Pallavi is a fine actress and I enjoy working with her. Baat yeh hai ki, the entire awards scene was choreographed to the last bit, a complete staged act. I don't see the need for such a fuss to be made about this. We performed on three songs in all. At the end of the second song, she gives me a peck here (gestures to his cheek), aur woh sharma jaati hai.

Then comes Mr. Bachchan's line – 'Kya dekh rahe ho? Chalo shuru ho jao!' There is a surprise element to it, and the theme of the song required this sort of a performance. I am not supposed to handle the choreography," he defensively adds. What called for an interesting observation at that moment, was to notice Yash's wife, Gouri's expression. You couldn't have missed it, as suddenly all cameras were glued onto her! Yash regretfully says, "That is the magic of editing. This is how it was all projected and if those watching it choose to take it in such a manner, I am quite surprised."

Surprising, it isn't in the least. Word has it that on the sets, the two of them spend most of their time together, between shots. "C'mon, there is nothing like that going on. Two people working together are bound to have some sort of an understanding among them. As performers, if we are husband and wife on screen, we must look it while performing. They wanted a romantic feel to the show at the awards function. I am a married man and you think I have nothing better to do than to propose to a girl on stage?

I have never understood the lack of sensibility in people on such matters. Such things make it very difficult for us co-stars to work. I spend a lot of time even with my cameraman and director! Does it mean that when I arrive at the shoot, I am to shut myself up in the make-up room and sit alone? Am I not allowed to talk to anybody? People should know that it is a very stressful schedule. If I sit with a guy, they'll call me gay! Such gossip creates complications in a person's personal life," he says agitatedly.

Are there complications in Yash's personal life? Yash retorts back, "Kisiki biwi ko accha lagega kya? Even Pallavi has a boyfriend to whom she is planning to get married. Is he going to like it? No matter how understanding a husband or wife is, it gives rise to unnecessary doubts and insecurities. When two people are married, problems toh hoti hai, but it hasn't troubled our marriage as such." Makes you wonder why Gouri is not present on the sets more often.

Yash exclaims, "Why should my wife come to the sets? I'll be coming in and out of shots, and it gets very boring. Besides, how often can I go to her sets and escort her or she make time to come here?" He silences out, indicating there is nothing further to be deliberated upon. All things said and done, Yash has his concepts clear enough to gauge all that lies at stake. Yash celebrated Gouri's birthday at a private party held for close friends and family. It might interest you to know that Pallavi was not present. Point to be noted!