Chetan Hansraj is a miffed man after he had a showdown with one of the contestants of Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket on 9X.
Chetan recalls the incident, "A contestant addressed the judges in an indecent manner. The first time he called them names, I didn't intervene but asked him to keep his cool. But I couldn't take it when he started all over again. I went on stage and whacked him a little. This is my fourth reality show and arguments happen on all shows but disrespecting the judges, other participants and everyone else present on the sets is not done."
Does he agree that such confrontations are often staged to garner TRPs for these shows? "It's true. People instigate you to lose your cool to get something that catches eyeballs and increases viewers' interest. But to get abusive and express their I-don't-give-a-damn attitude isn't acceptable," he says.
Apart from the controversy, there are other things that have been keeping him on his toes too. If he wins Kaun Jeetega... he will get a chance to act in a film directed by Apoorva Lakhia and produced by Ekta Kapoor. "I said yes for the show for its novelty. The prize is substantial too. It'll launch the winner's career in Bollywood."
But he has already had a short stint in the Hindi film industry. Is he not wary of trying again, and that too when his small screen career is looking up? "Not at all! Failure inspires me to do better. Something that didn't work out the first time, deserves to be given a second chance," he says.
He is probably the only actor to be linked with both the Mahabharats on television. "In Mahabharat , I was only 14 years old and played the role of young Balram. Then I did not even know how to deliver the chaste Hindi dialogues. In Ekta's Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat K i, I play Bhim, who is one the most important characters in the epic. Bhim was the strength of the Pandavas and he was also the one whom Draupadi found most approachable in the hour of need. He is also remembered for having kept the promise that he had made to Draupadi. The characters are very different," says the actor.
Chetan is also not amused with controversies surrounding Mahabhaarat ... and says, "Although, the genre remains the same, this one has a completely different look. The old-timers will, of course, have a problem if a classic is remade, but there's no harm in trying to present a contemporary version for the new generation. We were anticipating comparisons, and as for the success of the Mahabhaarat ... the TRPs say it all."
On the personal front, Chetan and his wife Lavinia are expecting their second child in December. The couple has a two-and-half year old son, Ethen. Chetan reveals "We are very excited and are waiting for our second baby. Lavinia is glowing. Though he doesn't understand much, Ethen is happy as well. He keeps me busy when I am at home. I take him out to the park every evening." And what how does young Ethen react when he sees his dad on TV. "Oh! The minute he sees me on the TV, he starts saying Dadda, Dadda and stands in front of the TV. So it is going good for me on both the personal and professional fronts. Touch wood!" he concludes