I don't go weak-kneed when Mishal Raheja emerges as the cool don Dutta Bhau on one of the most popular serials on television today, Laagi Tujhse Lagan. But I still resent him nevertheless, for being so damn charming and good-looking. One of that annoying breed that can speak any old garbage in a scene, and it still sounds award-worthy. Stick him in a sickly rom-com and it feels like total sophistication. Dress him in a big chunky knit sweater and suddenly, you want one just like it. But it's not only his dashing looks that he's known for. His act as don Dutta has won a million hearts. And Mishal is not complaining because acting has always been a passion for him.
Though Mishal's popularity rose to great heights after he did MTV'S popular show Pyaar Vyaar And All That and Anurag Basu's Love Story, he disappeared for a year-and-a-half. Ask him the reason why he took such a long break and he smiles, "I started a company of my own called Party Hard drivers. I send drivers at night for people who don't want to drink and drive back home. The idea came to me as the cops were getting really strict at the time. Also, one of my friends was struggling to get home at night from a bar, so two of my friends and I just took this initiative. I gave a lot of time to that. But now I have partners taking care of it, as I don't have time because of the show. At present I am just the sleeping partner."
After Love Story ended, there were a lot of rumours about him leaving television for films. The grapevine even suggested that he had signed a movie with Anurag Basu. So what went wrong there? "See, every actor has a dream of getting into films. And I did get a lot of offers, but nothing great. I didn't want to do the three and four hero films, or even films that didn't have a very tight script. I am not greedy; I didn't want to end up choosing the wrong thing. As far as Anurag is concerned," he pauses and then adds again, "The film I was supposed to do with him was going to be produced by him. The script was ready too. But that never happened because Rakesh Roshan came by and asked Anurag to do Kites. He had Hrithik Roshan coming his way, so he obviously chose Hrithik over me. If I was in Anurag's place, even I would have chosen Hrithik and not a new guy."
So has the project been stalled? "It's been two years now and that project hasn't been spoken about because Anurag was busy with Kites. I have no clue what's happening on that front, but I am very much in touch with Anurag. As of now, I am pretty happy doing Laagi Tujhse Lagan."
Coming to the show, Mishal had mentioned that he had taken inspiration for his character from films like Donnie Brasco and The Godfather. Doesn't he feel that's a little too far-fetched since he's playing a local Maharashtrian don? "I don't think so. See, it's just to see how the mood of a person is. For example, to notice how much a gangster looks into someone's eyes. I just saw the films to get all the mannerisms right. I wanted to see how they react to major circumstances and all. An actor always has to develop a character by himself. Like whatever is there in Dutta Bhau, is 50 per cent of me – even the anger and all."
On the sets, however, all his co-stars have been saying his character and him are as different as chalk and cheese. He apparently even distributes chocolates every two days. Is that true? "Every human being is egoistic to a certain extent, but a sensible person always learns to drop his ego with age. I have learnt from my mistakes and I try my best not to repeat them. Ego is something that makes you do the same thing again and again so I always make sure that I don't let any ego come between me and my work. I am very talkative and very bouncing. I love making friends and basically have a lot of fun on the sets. I am glad my co-stars feel so," he grins.
Considering he has played a lover boy in both his previous shows, has playing a character with grey shades been more challenging? He thinks for a moment and then says, "The challenging part has been to emote without many dialogues. I have to basically emote with my eyes and body language and that hasn't been a cakewalk. My character is an angry young man and I also have to manhandle a woman. Since an actor draws from his personal memories, this has been difficult. But luckily my co-star Mahi Vij is very co-operative. Even if I press her neck too hard or something, she doesn't say anything. Playing the don is fun."
Mishal may enjoy enacting his role, but not many know that the stylish actor wasn't the original choice for it. Does that bother him? "No, it doesn't bother me at all. I think it was my destiny and it is bad luck for the ones that didn't get it," he states frankly. "Actually I am very thankful to the people who dropped the show because I got it ultimately. The one thing I really like about Dutta is that he may be a don, but he's a don with a conscience. He doesn't harm the poor and the innocent. He kills the bad guys. I think Dutta Bhau is the young age Robin Hood."
On the personal front, Mishal was said to be in a long-term relationship but he doesn't want to delve into that. "I am very much single right now," he cuts me in and continues, "That was a very long time ago. Maybe five years back. Plus, I haven't been single since – I was dating a film actress two years ago."
Well, I was just getting to that. Rumours of Mishal's affair with Aamna Shariff were everywhere. "You know, that's slightly personal," says Mishal point blank. "I can't name the actress I was dating. All I will say is that she is a film actress. I honestly don't want the past to get dug up again because people will start harrowing me in my life. And that's the last thing I want."
Does that mean it has left him slightly disillusioned in love? "Relationships happen and they break. You learn to move on in life. And I am friends with every girl I have dated. Sometimes circumstances don't allow you to be together, but why break the friendship? For the past year-and-a-half, I haven't been in a serious relationship. I have just been dating. It's not a block; it's just that with age I have realised that girls need security, which is fair. But at this point in my life I can't give it, at least for the next three or four years," he takes a breather and begins again, "My work doesn't allow me to see my family, so giving my girlfriend time would be a bit impossible. Secondly, I don't intend to get married soon. First I need to work and do things for my current family, only then can I think about my future family. That's why I won't lie to someone about loving them or marrying them. Life has no guarantee. If things go wrong tomorrow, I don't want someone to curse me."
Just a while ago, we also heard reports of a crazy fan incident that happened with him. Two small town girls stalked Mishal all the way till his home. How did he deal with that? "Yes, I remember that. The girls came all the way from Kanpur to meet me for 15 minutes. They called me on the intercom and told me that they won't leave till I met them. So I just took them to a nearby ice-cream parlour, bought them ice-cream and asked them to leave. Luckily, they didn't hound me a lot. I love the perks that come with popularity, but I'd rather just focus on doing a good job and working hard."
Now that sounds like a good plan. So what are the limits he has set for himself? "I want to do movies right now; that's my ultimate aim. And I also want to do reality shows. I have a few offers in hand, so let's see where that goes. Other than that, I am a happy man," he concludes confidently.
Mishal is lucky to have a successful career hand in hand with a content life. His seemingly perfect existence looks to continue, as he continues to work hard to make his mark in the industry!
*By Raedita Tandan
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