We Will Start A Family Next Year
Apurva Agnihotri Soon To Go The Family Way!
After
debuting in Subhash Ghai's Pardes, not only did Apurva Agnihotri garner
awards for his wicked supporting-act alongside Shah Rukh Khan, he was
also touted as an actor to look out for. But unfortunately, things
didn't work out for him and his Bollywood career took a backseat. But
he came back with a bang, when he essayed the role of the suave Armaan
Suri in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi on TV and television became the medium
that gained him unprecedented heights of popularity. Currently, he has
stepped into the shoes of an actor much younger than him on the
super-hit daily Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai, and after a long time, the
media-shy Apurva has spoken his heart out!
After Pardes, Apurva
did a couple of films but none of these films did what Pardes did for
him. "Thankfully, God has given me the thought process of not looking
down upon anything. I think it's the way we look at a job that makes it
small or big. An actor has to be prepared for everything. As long as
you are doing good work, you will be appreciated. In hindsight, it was
a good decision to take up television," he states, as he talks about
his transition from Bollywood to the small-screen.
Prior to
Bidaai, Apurva was last seen in the show Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar
Dikhayengi and then Pati Patni Aur Woh, where he participated alongside
wife Shilpa Saklani. But it was only after a sabbatical of nine months
that he made a comeback with Bidaai. "It feels nice to be back.
Luckily, I am working with all the people I used to know during my
Jassi… days."
The actor, who had three offers to choose from,
ultimately zeroed down on Bidaai. "They were the usual conventional
roles, very regressive stuff, so I didn't take them up. I knew
somewhere that I wouldn't have enjoyed doing those shows. Another nice
show was offered to me before I got Bidaai. I was very close to
finalizing that one. But suddenly Rajan Shahi called and narrated the
script of Bidaai. He is someone I really look up to and love as a
person. He had directed me in Jassi… He is a star director now and so
the guy was an obvious choice. Hence, I took up this opportunity."
Ask
Apurva if the fact that he has to step into the shoes of Kinshuk
Mahajan, who is a much younger actor, bothers him and he instantly
replies, "Not really. I don't think of all this. Whatever is given to
me, I do my best. I don't like to think too much. It really isn't my
concern. They called me, I liked the role and that's about it. All my
co-actors are doing a fantastic job. They keep me on my toes and I can
never become complacent here. I am enjoying whatever I am doing. I am
not here to take anyone's place," he explains. "I want to create my own
place. If I can do that, I will think I have successfully entered
Bidaai. Whatever little work I have done, I have always done it with
honesty. In the long run, honesty pays off. So I hope people like me.
My policy in life is, if you give me something to do, I'll do it to the
best of my ability. I don't rack my brains too much and think about the
consequences."
And though most actors his age are either
sitting at home or waiting for their films to release, Apurva doesn't
feel he's a misfit among the current lot of young, fresh actors. "Why
would I feel out of place? I have always had a sense of belonging to
television."
One
can't help but notice that Apurva has had a sort of a mini-makeover.
He's sporting a lean look and has even gotten rid of his trademark long
hair.
He modestly says, "I have just been working out regularly
and I think it's nicer to be lean. But I am not that thin. It's also
the kind of clothes I wear. If I wear a tight-fitted shirt, you will
see that I am not skinny. Let me give you this Hollywood theory. I am
playing a kind of role, which requires me to look lean. Anyway, I don't
put on weight easily as I am not fond of eating out and am a pure
vegetarian. As for my hair, I had long hair for three years. I needed a
change, so I chopped it out. Everyone thinks short hair suits me more."
Much has been said about Apurva's reluctance of talking to the
media, so one wonders what brought about this sudden change in him, as
now he is comfortable speaking to the press. For years it was assumed
that he had an attitude problem and wasn't interested in any sort of
media interaction.
But Apurva clears the air. "I am basically
very shy and have problems interacting with strangers. I like to keep
it that way. I always believe that you should talk when you have
something worth talking about. People, who know me, know I don't have
any kind of attitude problem. I don't think they have this kind of a
perception about me anyway. I just like to keep a low profile." His
wife Shilpa on the other hand is known to be more socially amiable.
"Oh, Shilpa is totally the opposite of what I am. Everyone speaks to
her and she easily makes friends. She is an extrovert. Even I am
friendly, but it takes time for me to open up."
Speaking about
Shilpa, the couple has been married for quite sometime now. Are they
planning to start a family soon and embrace parenthood like their other
married contemporaries? "We will start a family next year, because
before that I need to make lots of money! Starting a family is an
expensive proposition. I want to be settled first. I think another
year, year-and-a-half on television should do that. Next year, we will
keep a deadline." He talks about wife Shilpa and his thoughts on it.
"Shilpa loves kids. She is very good with them. In fact, she is very
good with kids and animals. I remember it was very tough being on Pati
Patni Aur Woh. We were not used to raising kids. We used to be up
almost the whole day. Initially, I got a little pissed off and used to
wonder what I was doing. But when the kids left on the fourth day, we
both were crying, though obviously I didn't cry in front of the camera.
It is something that is difficult to explain unless you have
experienced it."
For
all those who want to see Shilpa-Apurva acting together, there may
finally be some good news. They have been offered a show. Apurva
elaborates, "Just when I started shooting for Bidaai, we got an offer.
It is a very nice, intriguing daily soap. I hope we get the time to do
it, as it is slated to go on floors post the monsoons. You see, I only
do one show at a time. I like it that way and enjoy it because if there
is too much of work, then you can't make anyone happy, including
yourself. I have seen my actor friends doing two shifts in a day and
working for 19-20 hours. You burn out soon. It's not what I want to do."
Apart
from acting, Apurva has always been inclined towards direction and is
seriously contemplating getting into that field. "I have always wanted
to direct and I just hope and pray to God that it happens. I don't know
about being a successful actor, but I want to be a successful director
for sure. Also, because my father has been a writer, I would love to go
back to films as a director. But I am going to be doing television for
some more time, before I take that leap."
At the moment, Apurva is content with television and feels very settled here. Only time will tell what he plans to do next.
* By Purvaja Sawant
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