Article:Rajiv Khandelwal sports new image

Television actor Rajiv Khandelwal has gone in for an image change with his new serial "Left Right Left", where he plays a Captain in an army academy. The serial, which is aired weekdays on Sony/Sab channel, is the actor's first daily soap in more than a year. He last shot for "Kahiin To Hoga" on May 18, 2005.

Said Rajiv:"'Left Right Left' takes me as far away from 'Kahiin To Hoga' as possible. I'm blessed because people haven't forgotten me though I haven't been that visible on TV. I wanted to break the myth about TV stars being forgotten. And I didn't vanish entirely. I did a weekly series 'Time Bomb' for six months. Then I did a cameo in 'ID', a music video and 'Deal Ya No Deal' on Sony."

When asked if audiences would identify him only as Sujal of "Kahiin To Hoga", he said people knew him best as Rajiv. "Sujal as a character remains alive because I played him for two years every day, but people don't address me as Sujal any more."

Rajiv said that "Kahiin To Hoga" not only brought him stardom but also helped him grow as a human being. "I stepped out of that world and stepped into a real world.'Kahiin To Hoga' turned me into a superstar. As a person, I'm equipped to take on any challenge now."

The actor turned down Sony's supernatural thriller "Akela", which is also on air now, because he did not want to essay any more tense characters and he feels Sudhanshu Pande is apt for the part.

"When I heard the narration, I felt there was no vision beyond the first four episodes and I didn't want to do horror. After Sujal, I didn't want to play another tense unsmiling character. But when I saw the first episode, I knew the makers of 'Akela' had a winner on their hands and Sudhanshu Pande looks apt for the part. I couldn't have done such a good job."

Getting back to "Left Right Left", Rajiv said he was hooked immediately after the producers Deeya and Tony Singh called.

"After Ekta Kapoor, if there's anyone I wanted to work with it was Tony and Deeya. I come from an army background, and I'm playing an army-man in 'Left Right Left'. When I heard the story I said 'this sounds too good'. Of course, I had my doubts. We can never depict the army absolutely authentically. I'd describe 'Left Right Left' as very subtle humour in uniform."

Rajiv however clarified that this serial isn't based on the Indian Army. "No TV serial can afford to depict the army. It's about an academy that motivates cadets to join the army. We've designed the visuals with great care and the cadets got actually trained. I play Captain Rajvir Singh and I love it."

"Left Right Left" will take up only 18 days each month but Rajiv says he won't do any other serial simultaneously, as he wants audiences to know him by just one character at a time.

Meanwhile, the popular actor denies reports of his high-handed behaviour while anchoring the game show "Deal Ya No Deal".

"My high-handedness was news to me. I was supposed to have been smoking without permission during shooting. That's what I call smoke without fire. No one on the sets was allowed to smoke and I don't need to defend myself further."

Rajiv added that he is not bothered by failure. "In one year I've done all kinds of stuff. I failed with 'Deal Ya No Deal'. Sony expected a miracle but I couldn't save a sinking show. But at least I tried. I'm happy as long as the people working with me are happy.

On his long-term plans, he said he would be focusing on television throughout the year. "At the year-end, I'll take a serious look at a career in cinema."