Rajeev's Dream comes TRUE

W ith his father and brother in the Indian Army, it was only natural that actor Rajeev Khandelwal too secretly desired to wear the army uniform and shoot com- mands. However that was not to be, as he instead found his calling as an actor. But now with Khandelwal's latest role of Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat in Deeya and Tony Singh's daily show Left Right Left on SAB set in the National Defence Academy, the actor has got an oppor- tunity to live his dream in reel life. He says about his character, "I play a captain who's sent on a deputation but I still don't get to wear the uni- form but I can shoot commands as I train a few youngsters in the defence academy. The character I play has layers and so that makes it interest- ing to play because I have always be- lieved in trying and doing different things, stuff that excites me." Khandelwal says that one of the reasons he chose to do this show is "the producers who are known for their quality work. The concept is path breaking and I would rather be part of something unique. I am just one part of the ensemble cast and it feels good to not be the sole face of the show." He says "on one hand Captain Shekhawat has an interesting equation with the kids but on the other hand he has issues with the brigadier in the academy played by Puneet Issar." Since the makers claim that the serial, like Fauji (remember the Shah Rukh Khan serial on Doordar- shan ages ago) will create a patriotic wave among the youth, what's Khan- delwal's take on patriotism? "Like most people I too am passionate and patriotic about my country. I don't wear it on my sleeve. The patriotic spirit is dormant in me, which keeps surfacing every now and then. I hope the spirit never sleeps ever." Khan- delwal says that he's always admired the work of his producers. "I used to love Banegi Apni Baat and even Jas- si Jaissi Koi Nahin. They have al- ways trodden a different path. That's the reason I feel all charged up about doing Left Right Left with them." Finally ask him if films are on his agenda and he says "this year, it's just TV for me." RAJEEV ON DEAL YA NO DEAL Khandelwal's last outing was the job of a game show host on Sony's Deal Ya No Deal. While it's said that his pres- ence couldn't really set the TRPs shoot the roof, the actor maintains that, "The show will always be one of the best chapters in my career. I en- joyed being a host to the hilt because I got to interact with real people. But if it's not worked in terms of TRPs then I was one with the channel in their decision to take the show off air though I feel sad because just when I was be- ginning to enjoy the show, it had to go off air."