Yet another article in 'The Hindu'

"I had worked with Sagars before in Sai Baba. When they approached me to play the young Prithiviraj, the offer was for three-four episodes. I was to shoot for how Prithviraj learnt to use shabdbhedi baan (firing an arrow in the direction of voice) and the lion killing episode. But somehow people started liking me as the TRPs showed and one thing led to another," says Rajat after being finally replaced by Anas Rashid as the older Prithvi.

For the uninitiated, Angad Bedi, son of cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi was supposed to replace Rajat but he opted out in the interim.

All of 14, Rajat says it was his physique that also helped the producers in hiding his age. "I am a Jat from Delhi. I don't do any specific exercises." Having missed his birthday and studies during this period, Rajat now wants to take a break from acting.

"My parents and friends know the real Rajat. It's the fans that see me differently. I can't share the mails that I get from my female fans. They really think that I am old enough to feel the emotions I portray on the small screen."

Rajat clears he never studied history books to get into the character. "Similarly I am too young to experience the emotions I was required to portray. I did what the director told me. Perhaps the spontaneity worked to my advantage."

Rajat Tokas as Prithviraj Chauhan.

A celebrity in his school now, Rajat says the teachers who used to reprimand him for devoting too much time to extracurricular activities now request him to meet their kids.

Replacing him is Anas Rashid, who has to wear a wig because unlike Rajat he doesn't sport long hair. Hailing from Malerkotla in Punjab, Anas started his career with Balaji's Kahin to Hoga. "Television is full of women-oriented shows and I wanted to move out of such shows Prithvi…is one of the rare male shows on air. I feel lucky. I was auditioned first and then checked in the get-up." Anas says, "He had to learn the intricacies of sword fights. "Now while doing the action scenes, I feel I have some connection with Prithviraj!" Like Rajat, Anas also doesn't want to flip through history books to know more about Prithviraj.

"The only thing I knew about him before starting to shoot was that he was the last Hindu King of Delhi. Also if we go by what is written about him in history books, the series would have been over in 100 episodes."