Rajeev Khandelwal has no inhibitions about doing intimate scenes. However, the actor says that he isn't comfortable when asked to stab, kill or abuse someone on screen. "We do kiss in real life but killing or abusing someone is not what I do in real life. So, I feel uncomfortable when the script demands me to do such things," says Rajeev, who made an impactful debut in Bollywood with Raj Kumar Gupta's psychological crime thriller Aamir in 2008.
The actor, who became a household name, thanks to his insane popularity as Sujal Garewal on the television show Kahiin to Hoga, can be seen in quite a few intimate scenes in his recently-released thriller starring Gauahar Khan, Gemma Atkinson, Caterina Murino and Ankita Makwana. Rajeev also says that the audience no longer spends money on a film just to watch the actors kissing on screen. "We keep talking about intimacy and kissing on the big screen as if we are still in the 1990s. Today, we have access to internet and we can watch anything on our mobile. So, I don't think people today will spend money and come to watch a kissing scene in a film," says Rajeev, who was recently in Kolkata.
The actor sounds offended when we tell him that his new film looks more like an erotic thriller'. "Intimacy is not always erotic. We have a contrived definition of erotica. This film is not about sex. This film is more cerebral than physical. If you have to establish a relationship between a man and woman in 10 minutes, you have to depict intimacy. It's an edge-f-thes-eat thriller," he defends.
That said, Rajeev is least perturbed about being seen in fewer films. His last release was Kaushik Ghatak's Samrat & Co in 2014, and he is aware of the fact that in the glamour industry, out of sight means out of mind. He, however, has no problem starting from scratch. "If people have loved me in my first show then I should also have the potential to win their hearts when I make a comeback after a hiatus. I have no PR agency and neither do I attend parties nor do I go to award functions. Yet, I have survived. I am okay if I have to start from scratch," says the actor, who is glad that his new thriller is reminding the audience of Jason Bourne and James Bond.
In the last few years, the Sacch Ka Saamna host has mostly done thrillers (Samrat & Co, Table No.21, Shaitan and Aamir). Rajeev says that he dreams of playing characters where he can perform through eyes. "These were the best films that were offered to me. I have said no to a few commercial films and I don't regret it," says Rajeev, whose last TV show, Reporters, didn't garner good TRPs.
TRIVIA
- Hindustan Times (Kolkata) - City
- 17 Aug 2016
Phobia: Claustrophobia Favourite dish: I am not a foodie, but I like anything which is home cooked. Define yourself in three words: Simple, basic, ordinary Two things fans don't know about you: I find the biggest pleasures in the smallest things. For example: Standing in the queue and buying my own ticket gives me a high. I like growing my own vegetables. Also, I am finicky about food. I don't like food which is made and kept for more than three hours. I don't like my food, when it's reheated. So, it's really a pain for my wife. If not an actor, what would you be: An army officer Turn off: Hypocrisy
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