I would have been a Casanova in my past life

The film world and the small screen now excite actor Ravi Kishaan equally. While he's looking forward to his new avatar in Mani Ratnam's much-awaited "Ravana", the Bhojpuri star is also showing keen interest in past life regression therapy, thanks to a new TV show he's hosting.

After featuring in several Bollywood films, actor Ravi Kishaan says, "Ravana" will be a departure from his usual image. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.

"I have been working with Mani Ratnam in Kerala jungles for a year and a half. I play Abhishek Bachchan's elder brother in the film. It's going to be a mind-blowing film and I have a parallel role in it. You'll get to see a new me in it," Ravi told.

"Ravana" is said to be a modern interpretation of the Hindu mythological epic Ramayana. It is being made both in Hindi and Tamil and is set to release some time next year.

Ravi is all praise for National Award-winning director Mani Ratnam.

"Mani sir is mad about cinema. He loves his work a lot and his dedication is unmatched," he said.

The 38-year-old actor says his hands are currently full with over five Bollywood films and nine Bhojpuri projects apart from a television reality show that he is set to host.

Asked how he manages it all, Ravi said, "Don't ask! I manage somehow...keep using eyedrops to look fresh all the time."

Starting Dec 7, Ravi will be seen anchoring NDTV Imagine's new show "Raaz - Pichhle Janam Ka", which has Mumbai-based clinical psychologist Trupti Jayin conducting past life regression therapy on people.

Through the show, participants are said to be able to find the reasons behind their present-day fears, phobias and physical ailments in their previous lives.

Ravi, who has been a part of reality shows like "Bigg Boss" and "Ek Se Badhkar Ek", says he jumped at the offer to host "Raaz - Pichhle Janam Ka".

"I was waiting for a unique show and then this came along. It's not something that's been done before. Of course we have read books about it, seen past life in films like 'Karan Arjun', but such a reality show has never happened, " he said.

Though Ravi has been actively promoting the show's concept, he hasn't mustered the courage to undergo the therapy himself.

"Trupti-ji wants me to undergo it. But I fear the outcome -- may be I was a warrior in my past life. But she says I could either have been a saadhu (saint) or a Casanova with 200 women around me. And she says the chances are more that I would have been a Casanova. It scares me. But I'll try the therapy one day, " Ravi said.

The actor, however, said he wouldn't mind knowing who he was in his last birth.

"I had a fear of heights but I overcame that while shooting for 'Luck'. I jumped from a height of 2, 000 feet for one shot. But now I want to know who I was, what I did in the past life that I have gone on to become an icon for youth in north India and Bihar in this life," Ravi said.