Iqbal Khan : Small screen's 'Salman Khan'

In person, prime time hunk Iqbal Khan is charming and articulate. As he walks into the hotel room, his easy charm and radiant smile are in place, as flashbulbs go berserk.

This is his second trip to the city in six months and Iqbal is game about talking television and even his equation with Ekta Kapoor. So even questions about the striking similarities between Waaris and Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar , don't ruffle him. Iqbal firmly denies it saying, "the show is not a remake of Sarkar or Sarkar Raj at all. The promos could have communicated that but it's not true. How can a two-hour film be made into a television serial?

And yes, now that the serial's on air, we've noted those warm, warm vibes he's been sharing with co-star Shilpa Shinde. "I think every actor can do a scene well even if they don't share a good off screen rapport with co-stars. But I think a comfort-level sure comes useful. Shilpa and I are comfortable with each other. Our whole unit is like one big family."

How does he react to tags like small screen's Salman Khan? Iqbal takes it in the right spirit as a "compliment and hopes to keep up to everyone's expectations. I am glad to have a tag like 'television's Salman Khan' and hope to be more successful with everyone's love."

From Ekta Kapoor to Smriti Irani's production house. What are the differences? "Well, both productions houses are great. I've had a good time so far. The only difference between the two would be that Balaji has more experience but apart from that both are quite similar," he says on a politically correct note.

Iqbal is aware about the on-going trend of replacing actors and he is one actor who "wouldn't mind replacing an actor but only if the script, character and money is good. Someone like Ronit Roy replacing another actor has worked wonderfully for Ronit. But not everyone can guarantee success. I personally prefer to do a show that is fresh and new rather than replacing someone who has already been seen by the audience."

This well-turned out actor claims he owes his abs to a rigourous work out regime. He claims he doesn't worry too much about what he's eating, but makes sure that he exercises. The one sin he can't resist is tucking into a calorie rich, "chocolate brownie."
A much in love husband, Iqbal takes out as much time as he can for wife Sneha. "She's known me for years and understands me and the demands of my profession. So, balancing work and personal life is not much of a problem. Since both of us are busy with our work, we try and take out as much time as we can for each other. On Sundays, I make sure that I don't wake her up as she has an off and I prepare my own tiffin to the set," he shares on a parting note.