‘I believe in taking life as it comes’

Kulvaddhu is your first daily soap. What prompted you
to do it?
Maverick is a professional production house. Even the channel on which the show is being aired is good. Above that, my role of Vikram Rathod is a powerful one. It's like the whole and soul of the serial just like Amrish Puri's role in 'Virasaat'. I'm also being paid well. I want to concentrate on only one show at a time so that I continue doing films as well. My gut feeling says that Kulvaddhu will be a major hit as Maverick is projecting it well. Rajasthan as the backdrop of the story gives it a grand and traditional look.

How did you begin your television career?
I did a show called Kurushetra on Zee years ago with Seema Kapoor and Parmeet Sethi as co-stars. It was a huge, hit. From there I was picked up by Mukesh Bhatt for Fareb. I continued to get good offers after that. There are only five actors from television who made a mark on the big screen. The first was Shah Rukh Khan. The other actors who did television just followed in the footsteps of Ashish Vidyarthi, Ashutosh Rana, Sharad Kapoor and Manoj Bajpai. I even modelled for Dig Jam Suiting and Shirting's for five years.

Your character in Devdas was appreciated a lot but you didn't benefit much from it!
Post Devdas, there came in a trend of comedy films and everyone was making only comedy films. I did get an offer for Phir Hera Pheri, which was a hit. I also did films like Dev, Assambhav, and Elan but those films didn't work at the box office.

What do you think of Anuj Saxena as a producer?
He's a fabulous producer. He is extremely polite, humble and co-operative. We get whatever we ask for on the sets. Everything is being taken care of.

Which are the films that you are currently doing?
I am doing N. Chandra's Breaking News in which I am playing a Don, Black and White directed by Subhash Ghai in which I'm playing a terrorist head. I am also doing Mudrank-The Scam. Gas station by Arun Frank is ready for release. I am also doing Vrinda with Sonali Kulkarni.

Kitu Gidwani is your senior in the industry. How do you find her as a co-star?
I have worked with Kitu in Kamal Hasan's 'Abhay'. She's a fantastic actress and doesn't throw any tantrums. Even the girl, Daljit, who's playing the main protagonist, is quite bubbly. The atmosphere on the set is very good.

Are there any new projects that you are doing?
I am concentrating on Hollywood films as well. One is Veild Existence by a British production company called Walk Tall Production. I am also doing Singularity in which I am working with Aishwariya Rai and a few others. I am also doing two Bhojpuri films.

How do you manage your film and serial shoot simultaneously?
I am seriously in trouble (laughs). I'm shooting day and night. I am doing a daily soap for the first time so it will take time in adjusting to the hectic schedules. However, I'm not complaining because working round the clock is good for my career.

What is your sixth book all about?
Most of my books are on travel. The sixth one is titled Mysterious Maharashtra. It is available in English, as well as in Marathi in Gudh Ramya Mahrashtra. The book is about all the mysterious happening and miracles in Maharastra.

You are also into photography. Tell us about it.
I am a Technical Engineer also. While studying Engineering, I developed photography as a hobby. I enjoy wild life photography the most. I am very fascinated by it. I have already held three exhibitions of my pictures and intend to do another one in January or February.

Which are you favourite television programs?
I watch Travel and Living on National Geographic, ESPN, and Discovery, whenever I find time for it. Now I think I will try to watch Kulvaddhu.

Tell something about your personal life.
I am happily married to Rani and we have a fourteen-year-old son. My wife is anchoring a cookery show Manasi on ETV Marathi, a show targeted at housewives.

Don't you want to anchor television shows?
I am anchoring a Travel based show, Happy Journey on ETV where I travel to exotic foreign locations.

What are your future plans like?
I believe in taking life as it comes. I am happy the way my career is moving. I am well settled in life.