Get ready to see Raj in grey hair ....

Are you taking a day off from work?
I like to work as much as possible, even on holidays. But if my staff will not be coming to the office, I'll have to be content with fewer meetings!

Are you giving your Kasamh Se actors some respite? They desperately want a day off!
(Laughs) Well, I think all shows are getting the day off.

The inevitable question: Will you work with Sony in the future?
I have no problems with Sony. My personal and professional equations with Sandiip Sikcand (Sony's Creative Head) are two different things. Professionally, I wish him all the best.

Then why not work with Sony?
I don't know why so much noise is being made about why I'm not working with Sony. I had a show for them, Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai. It came to an end, and there's so much else to do. I have eight shows in the pipeline. Two of them are almost done for Star.

Fine. With Star One resorting to soaps too, do you feel vindicated?
I never felt victimised so why would I feel vindicated now? I don't take what people have to say seriously. I only take what I say seriously.

Kahaani… is set for a leap?

Yup. That's happening very soon. There's a bit of reality being woven around it. I am very charged about this leap.

Why didn't Kandy Floss do well?
Kandy Floss was never meant to be a TRP-oriented show. Shows like that are alternative programming, which is always on a wet wicket. But it gave us the start we were looking for in alternative programming.

After Gurpreet's problems on the KTH sets, buzz is that Rajeev Khandelwal's coming back?
(Smiles) This rumour's too funny. Who started it?

Maybe his friends, who want to keep him in the news...
I don't think I'll work with Rajeev again. KTH comes directly under me, so Rajeev does not re-enter KTH. My personal equation with Rajeev maybe on a spoilt wicket, but it won't come in the way of his future. If Star or even Balaji wants him on a show handled by personnel other than me, it's fine.

There are rumours about Aamna throwing tantrums on the sets...
Aamna is a thorough professional. She has never mixed her personal and professional lives. Gurpreet (Singh) needlessly spoke against her in print. Consequently, Aamna could have thrown tantrums on the sets, but she never brought it up.

Did you have to change the script because she didn't want to go grey?
At that time, I hadn't finalised the track myself. Aamna just had a point of view and she brought it across to my table. There's nothing wrong in doing that.

Word is, you asked Smriti Iraani to give more dates to Kyunki…? She was giving all her time to Thodi Zameen Thoda Aasman.
Such things happen in a daily show, everyday. It's an occupational hazard. I have a wonderful equation with Smriti and I am happy that she is planning another show. If she is progressing in life, why should I be unhappy? She is a smart girl and has a right to grow. I love it if people in my company grow. Like Mahesh Pandey, who started a writer and is a producer now. We believe a company that makes millions isn't good enough till it makes millionaires.

Buzz is, you want to pull out of your co-production from Thodi Zameen…?
Aisa kuch bhi nahin hai. This loose talk about Smriti and me is being circulated by some former employees of Balaji. I'm going to find out who they are.