So isn't he wary about putting the grey in his hair? "If putting a whitener in my hair is going to make me look old, what about the wrinkles?" he laughs, adding, "I think people are smart enough to know that we are just playing characters. Besides, tomorrow if I do some other show, play another character, people would know the difference between Hussain and Sumeet, no? Besides, I think one is attached to a show like Kumkum and would want to continue doing good work as playing a father on screen is not the end of life."
Though he looks a little off colour (apparently the cast was shooting outdoors in the scorching heat the day before), he has a couple of reasons to be happy -- his marriage to girlfriend Tina and his award winning run at the recently held Star Parivaar awards.
About winning the Favourite Pati and Favourite Bhai awards he says, "I think it only reflects the consistency with which the creative team behind Kumkum has worked on our characters. Well it cer tainly feels good to be popular consistently."
Coming to generation leaps, didn't he have problems earlier playing a dad in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi when it had taken a leap a couple of years ago? "Not really, I did play a father to two girls though it was only for a few episodes. I was pressed for time as I was busy with other shows like Kumkum and Kr ishna Arjun where I had key roles."
Anuj Saxena, who played his brother Jatin in Kumkum, was recently back in the show with an important twist.
There were rumours that Saxena's presence made him a little insecure considering the show is now more the baby of Sumeet and Kumkum. "I think everybody is here to do a job. If you start feeling insecure and plot against someone or try to edit somebody's role then all you will end up with is a lot of negative vibes on the sets. And I have always stayed away from it. Who's there or not there in a show doesn't matter to me. All that's important is what am I doing in it. By rule I have never recommended anybody for any role."
Films he says are on his agenda "but the role should make me climb higher and not two steps down."
Rumours of his affair with leading lady Juhi Parmar are met with a laugh. "You know, with most leading pairs on TV, it's either they are in love and have married or they can't stand each other. In our case it's neither that's why probably they feel there's something we are hiding."
Finally, on his wife Tina, a fashion designer and his girlfriend of nine years, he says, "It's beautiful to marry someone you have loved so much. All I pray to God is let me make my wife smile always. I'd be very lucky if I'm able to keep her happy, forever." Long leap The show is taking a 20-year leap with five new actors joining in Vivan Batena plays Dhruv, son of Jatin and Kumkum Gaurav Khanna and Chaahat Khanna play Sharman and Aashka respectively, children of Sumeet and Kumkum Karishma Mehta will play Siya Grewal the daughter of a family friend Sayantini Ghosh plays Aantraa, Dhruv's love interest
Source: Hindustan Times, Mumbai Edition
Dated-08 April,2006
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
