Neel quit Saath Phere

Neel quits Saat Phere

Rakesh Bapat has bagged the lead role in the remake of Santoshi Maa

Sapana Patil Poojary

The few films that he starred in failed to put him in the big league. So, Rakesh Bapat turned his attention to the small screen. But now, the actor who plays Neel in Zee's Saat Phere is quitting the serial and going back to films.

Rakesh has received an offer to play the lead in Maa Santoshi Maa, a remake of the 1975 hit film Jai Santoshi Maa. He has decided to quit Saat Phere and is all set to move to Hyderabad where he will spend a month or two shooting for the film.

When Rakesh debuted in Saat Phere last year, it seemed he had great television career in front of him. In fact, prior to the introduction of Nahar (Saloni's husband), Rakesh had received good footage as Saloni's lover. However, since the new developments in the storyline, Rakesh's character was relegated to the background.

"I wasn't too happy with the way my role was shaping up in Saat Phere. So I spoke to the producers, Sunjoy and Comall Waddhwa. They told me that they are working on getting my track back," he says. "Meanwhile, I got this offer for Maa Santoshi Maa, which will require me to be away from the serial for a-month-and-a-half. In order to explain my disappearance from the serial, my character Neel will shift to Mumbai. I will be back on Saat Phere if my track develops. So far, there are no hang ups. The Waddhwas have been extremely good to me."

Rakesh denies having taking up acting on television because his last films, namely Naam Gum Jaayega, Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya? and Wrong Number flopped. "I am creative person. I have won a National award for my paintings, I am a musician and a sculptor too. For me, be it TV or films, the medium doesn't matter. Both are equally great. I took up Maa Santoshi Maa because my contract with the Waddhwas permitted me to do so. There was no restriction against taking up other assignments while doing Saat Phere," says Rakesh.

Why would he risk giving up a steady television career to star in films?

"I don't take up work thinking of the box office results. I take up work that satisfies my creative urges. I don't plan too much in life. I take each day as it comes. And just because I have got a lead role in films, I am not going to be hasty," he says.