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RAJEEV KHANDELWAL : The Enigmatic Actor
By Piroj Wadia
He's often been called arrogant and charming in the same breath. He
may not be drop-dead good-looking but has the face of a poster-boy.
He chucked up secured fame for growth as an actor.
Rajeev Khandelwal will be the enigma of the season
The newest daily on air is Left Right Left. Produced and directed by
Tony and Deeya Singh, Left Right Left on SAB TV is an inspirational
and modern story. It captures the journey of six confused and
disoriented youngsters who transform into strong determined
individuals. The story also renders their realization for the love
of their motherland along the way.
At the centre of the young ones' life is Captain Rajveer, a charming
gentleman with a great sense of humour. He is is at the academy on a
high level confidential agenda. He is a taskmaster to the core and
becomes a true mentor of the youngsters, and he is portrayed by
Rajeev Khandelwal aka Sujal. 😕
Rajeev's early foray into documentary filmmaking is by now well-
known. Since he has done one on the Indian Army, he must feel at
home with this series. "I never was a big-time documentary
filmmaker. It was more of experimenting with DD and in a small way I
contributed to them. I began writing and directing documentary
films. Till date, I have written about 30 documentaries on various
subjects, I made a documentary on the Indian Army and paramilitary
forces, old age, women's labour among many others."
That experience and attraction for making a film on the army stems
from his family ties - his father is a retired army officer and his
brother serves in the army. So to some extent that has been his
reason for doing Left Right Left. Ask if he did any preparation and
he replies, "Nothing much. I did go to the Raigad Military Academy
for a fitness reference point. Besides, my brother was posted in
Pune till recently, so I would visit him quite regularly and had an
opportunity to observe him. This kind of exposure has helped me with
my body language, nuances and tone of voice. But I am not playing a
man in uniform. I am seen as an instructor in plainclothes. But my
body language and tone will reflect my Army grounding and
discipline. As Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat I am linked with all
the other characters and each has a flair of his own. Shweta Salve
is a psycho-analyst, Puneet Issar is the principal and I am the
instructor."
Since the channel is not really a mainstream one, the show is likely
to go unnoticed, but Rajeev is not too concerned, "Tony and Deeya
have a wonderful track-record. Besides, my idea isn't to rock the
TRP meter, I would love to do that too, but would prefer to do shows
which have a definite focus." According to Rajeev, Time Bomb was
always slated for 24 episodes and he is comfortable with that.
He does not feel left out for not being seen on a high-profile
channel. "I find it sad when I see actors running after shows. They
are being featured in three to four shows simultaneously. It shows
how insecure they are. I'm proud about all the work that I have been
doing. I'd rather look ahead and do meaningful work." Having been
off the hectic pace of the shooting schedule for a daily show,
Rajeev avers that he's finding his rhythm. "With Left Right Left I
am back to a daily after a long time. I had for sometime lost touch
with the schedule."
The actor is referred to by quite a few epithets, and his admires
will aver that 'pin-up boy' is the most correct . He has a gaggle of
girls gushing over him, when spotted. They just cannot take their
eyes off his intense dark eyes. The Balaji late-night soap Kaahin To
Hoga brought him to the threshold of recognition and popularity. He
became the face of Sujal Garewal, the protagonist. The adulation
that followed was something any young actor would have given an arm
and a leg for. All this despite the fact that Kaahin To Hoga was a
late night show. Yet, when he had everything going for him he simply
upped and announced that he wanted out. "Sujal catapulted me to
fame. I got recognition. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
But I needed to grow as an actor and as an individual." In fact,
many were the critics who scoffed at his foolishness.. Aware of the
criticism that gathered around him Rajeev avers, "When I walked out
of Kaahin To Hoga people were critical. And those who talk like that
are all losers. I walked out at the peak of my association with the
show, and out of the safety and security of having regular work."
But he did so in search of growth and a challenge.
Though he seems to be going for unconventional roles after Kaahin To
Hoga, he simply can't shake off the Sujal tag, and doesn't really
mind it, "I love it when I am called Sujal, and people still call me
Sujal as the association is so strong. In fact, I would be hurt if I
am asked who I am."
Playing Sujal for an indefinite period wasn't what the good-looking
actor had in mind. "I wanted the makers to know that I am capable of
going beyond Sujal." So his next role was in an action serial Time
Bomb which ended in 24 episodes. "I see doing such unconventional
roles as a challenge to show my talent." Time Bomb with Ketan Mehta
was different and challenging for the young actor at so early in his
career. "It was a brilliant experience working with Ketan Mehta and
Kay Kay Menon. It didn't do well as regards TRPs. But the whole
thing was a learning experience," Rajeev sums up. He also anchored
Deal Ya No Deal, which he enjoyed doing and was sorry it had to
close down.
The end credits of many a prime-time serial read 'Show Packaging -
Rajeev Khandelwal'. Now considering Rajeev's association with
filmmaking, it would be an obvious question if he is also involved
in show packaging for some of the serials. He chuckles, "This is
anther Rajeev Khandelwal. It is not the first time I have been asked
this question. He too is from Delhi, but a very senior person in the
industry and a good editor. When I was in Delhi making my films,
some media people would often mistake me for him, but as soon as
they found out I wasn't their man they would drop me. When I came to
Mumbai, he was already here by then by that time, we met and laughed
at the mixed-up identities."
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