Neelam is protective - Samir Soni

Samir Soni discusses daughter Ahana, television, theatre and his stint on the controversial reality show Bigg Boss

I would have run away in a day if I were a contestant in Bigg Boss this season

Samir Soni, a popular face on television, in films and in theatre has a new role that's keeping him busy these days " that of a father to little daughter Ahana. The actor admits that work commitments don't give him enough time with her but his favourite way to pass time is to just watch her. He says, "My favourite pastime is to lie on the bed and watch her crawl over me. Neelam is very protective and thinks I might drop her. I don't agree, I want to let her fall and learn to get up again, it's good fun. She's just learning how to stand. Her sound effects are cute and at times scary." The actor adds that he wishes he could make more time for her. "Luckily she's too young to understand I should be giving her more time. She spends all her time with Neelam and her nana- nani. For her, I'm this strange looking man with stubble. I do feel guilty at times." The actor, last seen in

Parichay is now back on television with

Khauff Begins... Ringa Ringa Roses

on Life OK. Speaking about it he says, "They offered me a lot of money," he jokes. He adds, "For me it has always been about the character and that's what excites me. Can I add something to it? And how can I make it stand out, is what I look at."

Revealing more about his role in the show he says, "I play an ex- Army officer in his late 30s. He has a gift of being able to see the supernatural " those are the basics of the character. There is a back story and subtext and context. That itself is exciting. This is the first time I'm playing a role like this."

The actor adds that though the supernatural excites him, he hasn't experienced it. He says, "I haven't had any personal experience. Odd things happen to everyone. People have claimed to have seen ghosts and there are enough books on the subject, so I can't say it doesn't exist, though I haven't experienced it."

Samir is also a popular face on the theatre scene. Speaking about theatre, he says, "I haven't done too many shows of late, I have cut back on them. What I do depends on my need to express how I feel at that point in life. You have intense workshops and rehearsals. The initial commitment is one month. English theatre dosen't have as many shows as Gujarati and Hindi. I want to perform, I don't want to work just 100 days. I would rather work 300 days which is why I also do TV and films. However, I love theatre."

Samir, who has been a part of the reality show Bigg

Boss says, "I watch it off and on. I would have run away in a day if I were a contestant this season, it's very scary. That show has been the most fascinating experience in my life. I don't regret it."