Sudhanshu[Ranvir]on his new show Akela

Tell us a bit about Akela.
I play Ranvir, a Police officer, who gets shot in an encounter. He is in a coma and comes out of it eight years later. At that time he discovers that his fiance is married to someone else and his mother's dead. He feels like all's over for him. But he soon realises that he's got special powers of being able to see and communicate with the dead. He can't come to terms with this. But his close friend, who also got shot but died in the same encounter, tells him that it's a gift from God which he should use to help people.

Why such a strange title?
(Laughs) It is very unique. It's got a lot of relevance in the show. You'll understand that when you watch the show.

How was the experience of playing a character like Ranvir?
It was a supernatural experience. It's as extraordinary as the show. It was also a great working environment.

Do you find it challenging to play Ranvir?
It's definitely one of my most challenging roles. There are lots of shades to my character.

Do you find it disturbing to play characters like Ranvir?
This depends how deeply involved you want to get with your character. I remember the scene where I go back to my fiance after coming out of a coma asking her to marry me and she tells me that she's already married. She also tells me that eight years have passed. It really drained me out to think of eight years of my life gone by just like that. It depends on the scene. If it's an emotional scene I've to feel connected to it. Otherwise, I won't be able to make it look convincing to the audience.

Why this five year gap on television?
I was busy with my band, 'Band of Boys' and also a couple of films. Besides, there
were lots of saas-bahu serials happening at that time. I can't imagine being part of it even as a ghost in the background (laughs).

Did it feel out of place shooting for a television serial after such a long gap?
I agree there's a clear difference between films and television. But acting is acting whether in front of the film or television camera.

Any regrets about breaking away from the Band of Boys?
Not at all! I never regret anything in life. It was a great experience while it lasted, but playing for a band in India is not financially rewarding.

What was the Myth controversy?
I heard so many stories about Myth after I came back (laughs). It was a great
experience doing it. I did it because I wanted to work with an international team not because it would make me a Sean Connery. Director Stanley Tong is regarded as one of the best in the world. I've become good friends with him and hope to work with him sometime in the future.

Why were you so tight-lipped about your role in the film and let Mallika Sherawat grab all the limelight?
I don't know if she grabbed the limelight or if the limelight grabbed her. I stayed away from the media because I didn't know what to say. I knew that I had a small but important role in the film. But Mallika did a good job, I mean with her publicity (laughs).

Are you planning to take on more television serials?
I don't think a television serial can get better than Akela so I won't let this be the deciding factor. I want to grow as an actor and human being. So I'd want to do films although television is a big medium now.

How would you like to position yourself now, as a film or television actor?
I would like to be known as a good actor, be it on television or films. I have a few releases lined up. I have done one of the stories in Sanjay Gupta's Dus Kahani. I'm also doing his next film, Alibag, which is a big film. So I think now it shouldn't be a problem to call myself a film actor. Yeah, cinema will be my priority. It's my primary interest. I took up Akela because I see it as a weekly film. The directors are giving it a unique finish to make it look like a film.