See, Rajeev deals with Aamna

By Subhash K Jha

It's a deal that Rajiv Khandelwal just cant refuse. Aamna Sharif with whom Rajiv shares a very warm on-screen and off-screen rapport, sat on the hot seat for Deal Ya No Deal.

"That's right," Rajiv confirms the rumour. "Aamna is on my show this week. That will give the rumour mongers more reason to speculate. The fact is viewers haven't forgotten us as Sujal and Kashish on Kahiin To Ho Hoga.

I'm sure they'll be happy to see us together on television…better than all the completely non-happening stories that are cooked up about us. That should be fun. People will se us together on television after a year. "

Rajiv is having a ball anchoring Deal Ya No Deal. "I made it very clear from the start there'll be no tears, hysterics, drama and soap opera. With me on the show it's purely a game, to enjoy. Any game show is about enjoyment.

And if the emotions come out naturally, that's fine. Obviously if someone loses a crore he'll cry. But we don't exploit it on the show. Everywhere in the world Deal Ya No Deal is done in the spirit of a game.

I don't want all that drama about a paralyzed mom, drunken father and abusive boss that used to come along with the contestants. The channel and production house are with me in my decision to avoid exploiting the contestants' emotions.

We've gone easy on the celebrities because the idea was to make celebrities out of normal working-class people."

Rajiv admits the new 8 pm timing for Deal Ya No Deal isn't an ideal slot. "But we had no choice. They wanted Boogie Woogie in our original 9 p.m slot. That ok. I'm enjoying my stint on the show. I never wanted to be an anchor. I wanted to see how capable I am in this new role.

To stand in front of a live audience with ten cameras capturing the show….it has given me a tremendous opportunity to grow. In that sense I feel I'm one step ahead of my contemporaries who are so busy doing soaps they've no time to do anything else."

Not that Rajiv intends to do any more anchoring after Deal Ya No Deal. Right now he's busy shooting for Tony and Deya Singh 's new daily Left Right Left on Sab-Sony where he plays an army-man. Rajiv's co-stars on this daily are Shweta Salve and newcomer Priyanka Bassi.

Rajiv has also shot a pilot for a serial with Amna Sharif. "We both did our job as actors. Now the producer needs to get his act together."