Interview with actor Amarr Upadhyay

Viewers of Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand (DMNHC) were taken by surprise, one Monday night.

Dev was wrapped like a Mummy - and as the bandages unfolded - it was the familiar face of Varun Badola that one expected to see. Dev and Pammi would unite finally, and the serial would acquire an 'all's well that's ends well' note.

But Aroona Irani had other plans. Behind the bandages was the actor whose 'death' in Kyunki... had created mass hysteria! Vickey Lalwani unfolds the heartthrob of the old and young alike, Amarr Upadhyay.

Read on to get an insight into the cute and handsome guy: Excerpts:

Gosh! You looked so different in your earlier shows. Haven't you pulled down drastically?
I have lost eight kg from the days of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. I went on a diet which comprised of only soups and salads. I am not on diet anymore but I eat moderately and
avoid rice in particular. I have a tendency to put on weight. If I start having normal meals, I will put on inches within four
days flat.

Why did you go on a diet?
Simple. I want to make it big as a hero in the film industry.

Wasn't Wah Wah Ramji supposed to be your first release?
Right, but that got delayed. Gulshan Grover was busy with
Hollywood flicks, Paresh Rawal had some engagements, I had some date problems. We were not all free at the same time.

Even the producer who is a new guy could not organise and manage his artistes' dates easily.

Did the crashing of Dhund-The Fog trigger off your return to the small screen?
Not at all. I am not a bachcha to not understand how difficult it is to make it in movies. I am not the only actor whose debut film fared badly. I was not expecting Dhund... to create waves.

Mind you, Dhund... was not a bad film. The problem was that it wasn't publicised well enough and was released during the World Cup.

If you knew it would be tough to succeed in movies,
why did you opt out of Kyunki...? Couldn't you continue doing films and TV together. Did the film offers that came in after your 'death' in Kyunki... lure you?
The offers which started coming after my 'death' was not the only reason why I left Kyunki... that was the second reason. The first reason was that I was not game to being a part of the 20-year leap. How could I play father to a son who looks as old as me or maybe older? If the 20-year leap had not happened, I wouldn't have kicked up Kyunki... for films.

Still, I have no regrets. I have left a lasting impression on TV. Come with me on the roads and you'll know how popular I still am. Even now I'm called Mihir (laughs). Just recently, I was on a flight back to Mumbai. A gentleman sitting beside me sent a SMS to his girlfriend saying, he was sitting next to Mihir Virani of Kyunki... The girlfriend replied back in 120 seconds flat, "Which Mihir? New or old? If it's the old one, give him a kiss on my behalf." That's it!

Recently there was a strong rumour that you will be back in Kyunki...
I don't know.

Come on, there is no smoke without fire...
Okay, here goes... Balaji did call me, but things didn't work out.

Now with DMNHC on my plate, I have no time.

What do you mean by saying 'things didn't work out'?
Remuneration and dates. To be honest, I gave it a lot of thought but...

What do you mean by saying you 'gave it a lot of thought'? If things don't work out, they don't work out, that's all...
(interrupts) That's easier said than done. A lot of viewers have been pressurising me by letters and phone calls that I should return in Kyunki...

But would it be fair to the viewers if you return in Kyunki...? It would be like what happened in the Anuj-Rohit case in Kkusum, isn't it?
For God's sake, please don't compare Kyunki... to a chota-mota shows like Kkusum. Kyunki... is a freak. Serials like Kyunki... come once in a blue moon to production houses and channels.

KBC lifted Star Plus, Kyunki took it ahead and is still doing the trick for them. If I ever come back in Kyunki..., it would be definitely fair on the viewers. It would be purely due to viewers' choice.

Does that mean relations between you and Ektaa Kapoor are fine?
Absolutely fine. Recently she had even called me for a project she is making for Sahara, but I didn't like the story. It was a very offbeat subject, not a mainstream serial.

Has Aroona Irani promised you a film?
Yes, it's titled Waapsi.

Was that a deal struck between you and her before you said yes to DMNHC?
No. I had signed Waapsi when I was working with her in Mehendi Tere Naam Ki. It's just that the film hasn't happened yet. At the moment, she is too busy with her serials. She wants to have a serial on every channel. She'll start Waapsi at an appropriate time. I can't force her to start as and when I want.

How are you going to shuttle between TV serials and films?
It's okay. In fact, I can still accommodate one more weekly.

What is the difference between Balaji Productions and the Aroona Irani Productions?
Balaji is a big corporate house. Their approach is different. Like if you want to meet Ektaa Kapoor, it would be very difficult.

Of course, I share a wonderful equation with her. So for me, there are no hassles. Actually, she is handling too many serials and even films these days. I don't think that she has time for herself! With Irani, you can walk into her office any moment.

Have you taken some training in dancing? You need to dance well to become a successful hero...
(interrupts) I am comfortable dancing. I don't need any
formal training. Choreographers are very happy with me.

Would it have been easier, if you had a father or a godfather in tinsel town?
It would have helped. But I think that I have been pretty lucky even without one. Kyunki... gave me instant recognition. Today, I have five films lined up. All are on the verge of completion - Wah Wah Ramji, LoC, Ek Pardesi, Gherav and Waapsi. All these will release in 2003.

Only two people from the small screen have made it big on the big screen - Shah Rukh Khan and Madhavan. Your take on this?
That is no criterion to judge my future in tinsel town. I am
putting my best foot forward. There is no reason why I will not be able to convince the people who watch the big screen as well, that I am good.

If I wanted, I could have had 25 films but I have refused many film-makers.

Worried about the media pen working to link you up, here and there?
No. My wife trusts me. In fact, she coaxes me to be more cosy and relaxed in romantic scenes. In Dhund..., there's a scene where I give a slight peck on Aditi Govitrikar's lips. Seeing that, my wife uttered just one word: Cool!

She understands that these things are a part of my job.

Why have you added an extra 'r' at the end of your name?
A Fengshui expert told me to do it. He said that it would prove
lucky.

Will you allow your daughter to act in films, if she wants to?
Frankly, I would not like it. But do kids listen? For example, I
wanted to become a hero and I became one! Nobody could stop me.

Who, according to you, is the sexiest female in Bollywood?
Bipasha Basu. She is really hot! Koi shaque?