TOI: Ekta & I understand each other-Hiten

EKTA AND I UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER

Hiten Tejwani on his camaraderie with Ekta Kapoor,why he doesnt mind being the replacement specialist and the changing face of Indian television

Amrita Mulchandani


He is best known as the replacement actor.Blame it on the fact that hes considered a popular choice when it comes to replacing male leads on prime time shows on channels (hes replaced Manav Gohil in Kkusum,Sandeep Baswana in Kkoi Dil Mein Hai and Cezanne Khan in Kasauti Zindagi Kay).Hitens now set to replace Sushant Singh Rajput in Pavitra Rishta.He says,Replacing a lead actor is a big responsibility and challenge.I have done several roles so far and so only something that is challenging would have excited me.Thats why I took up this show.I know it wont be easy to replace Sushant but with my positive attitude and hard work I am sure I will take the character to another level.I will try and make the character look different.
Commenting on why he is always the obvious choice for replacing lead actors on shows,Hiten feels,the channels and productions house heads are the best people to answer this.But I am happy they think I am capable of replacing actors and they are giving me a chance to perform.
Working with producer Ekta Kapoors production house in many shows,Hiten shares a great professional rapport with her.He says,Ekta has faith in me.We have a comfort level with each other.She pampers me a lot.If I need anything on the sets she knows it in advance.We know how to work with each other. Hiten has worked with other production houses too,but the shows hes done with Ekta has inevitably grabbed more eyeballs.He says,I have done only cameos or small roles for some production house,I played the lead in Ektas shows,so there can be no comparison at all.If I had full fledged roles in those shows,things might have been different.
Hiten has been part of the television industry for long and he feels TV shows and actors have changed a lot.He says ruefully,Audiences are very smart these days.People like shows that have substance.Today there are so many shows and channels that it is difficult to keep the audience hooked to one show for very long.And that is why we dont have shows with good recall value. He also feels that there are so many new faces in the television industry who work for less remuneration and end up as one show wonders.Hiten says,Hardly 10 per cent newbies survive in the industry.I feel the lead character needs to be strong with whom the audience can connect.
Hiten has also had his share of Bollywood films and acted in Krishna Cottage,Joggers Park and Anwar but he is not doing any film at the moment.When he is not acting,Hiten manages his restaurant.He says,Actors have a limited shelf life.I think all actors should have something to fall back on,so that they can do selective roles.
There was a time when being married did not work in an actors favour in the glam world.Audiences are more matured now.They love us for your work and know that we have a personal life too, he says on a parting note.