Ejaz interview!!

Eijaz Khan speaks to Subhash K Jha On The End Of Kayvanjali and his rumoured link-up with Amrita Singh

Q: Does the departure from Kavyanjali sadden you?
A: Oh yes! This is the longest I've been in a serialAnd then to be accepted and loved as Kavya. I'm known more as Kavya than Eijaz. But I'm not at all scared of moving on to Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.

Every serial has been thrown at me as a challenge. And I love it. By the way I've won the 'best jodi' award at the Star Parivar Awards with Anita.

Q: But aren't you and Amrita Singh the jodi from Kavyanjali?
A: Were they really linking us together? I had HEARD semething like that. Because everyone saw what a great rapport shared both on and off screen. We were like two intelligent educated people bonding on the sets.

I think our compatibility helped us understand nuances in our scenes and took the soap to another level. She's such a livewire on the sets I'll really miss working with her.I've learnt so much from her.

Celebs from the large screen like Amrita Singh and Dara Singh (with whom I'm working in Nimmo) are so humble. They do exactly what they've to do.

Q: Are you placing Amrita Singh in the same league as Dara Singh?
A: No no, please! I'm just comparing their dedication even -though they're so well known.

Q: But the buzz was that she had gone from one Khan to another.
A: Ha. I wish that was true. But nothing like that happened. My love life is currently at the lowest ebb. My life is filled with only work now.

Q: What about Karishma Tanna?
A: I was waiting for that. There's nothing to be said about her. I was close to her during the shooting of Koi Dil Mein Hai. Since we were the only two unmarried actors on the sets the unit people linked us together. There was nothing between us.

Q: What about Iqbal Khan?
A: What about him? Before I get bumped off in Kavyanjali, we get to share some screen space. I'm looking forward to that. He's a really fine actor. And I'm not just saying that. Did you see him play the 'mamu' in Kahiin To Hoga without hamming? He's a down-to-earth guy. And I see no ego clashes happening.

Q: Have you been a victim of that?
A: Oh on television sets ego clashes are almost inevitable. If you're working with stars day in and day out it's bound to happen. The only reason I lose my cool on the sets is when I see a co-star being on the phone, not concentrating on his lines.

I've had pangas on the sets of Kavayanjali. But at the end of the day you've to work together in the same house(Balajee). I see my shift to Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka as going from one part of Balajee to another.

Q: Given a choice would you've preferred to go on with Kayanjali ?
A: I'm actually enjoying the shift. Nimmo gives me chance to do something lighter and more fun. I was too serious and central in Kavyanjali. In Nimmo I'm not the central character. There's a fresh set of faces with me. And I'm having a ball.