gaurav wants to mingle-new article

He's the flavour of the season. With two popular shows — Left Right Left and the dance based reality show Zara Nach ke dikha on the floors — Gaurav Chopra is on a spin.

Recently, he bagged the All India Achievers Award held.

"I was given the award for my contribution to the field of entertainment. Several other achievers from different occupations were awarded too. It was an elating experience" he says with a glint of pride in his eyes.

Acting apart, what has taken him and the audiences alike by surprise is his dancing prowess. "Amongst the boys in Zara…I am the only idiot who is not trained in any form of dance. So it comes as a pleasant surprise when I am told that I am a good dancer. Earlier when I was at the NIFT, Delhi, we would have these rocking parties which were the talk of the town because of the great girls and the cool environment. There I would try to show off by putting up a dance act with my girlfriends and would always be applauded. So I guess, dancing comes naturally to me," he laughs.

Was that why he chose to do Zara…even after his bitter experience with Nach Baliye?

"See, what upset Narayani and me at that point was that despite being strong contenders we were voted out by fellow participants. That was unfair especially because the audience wanted more of us. People protested with banners outside Siddhivinayak temple and even stopped me at several places saying we didn't deserve that treatment. Yet, I understand that it was the format of the show and it also allowed us to have personal interaction with our audiences. So when the same channel and production house approached me for the show, I couldn't say no. Of course, there were several offers for reality shows. But I liked the girls versus boys concept — it was like going back to school days where we fought with girls," the actor says.

Well, it does seem that Narayani and he come as an item? "Oh no, no" he laughs "Believe me, she was roped in at the last minute in Zara…when someone else dropped out. We also did a couple of episodes for Ghar ki laxmi betiyaan because the channel wanted us together. It's a compliment when we are told that we look good together on screen. But nothing more than that, please. And why shouldn't I work with her? Isn't it better to work with your best friend with whom you share a fantastic on-screen rapport than with a stranger?"

But one hears of their on and off relationship? "That's because people see us at occasions and put two and two together. There's no point in clarifying things. Admittedly, we were together at one point but since it wasn't working out, we went our ways. Today, we are great friends and nothing can change that, not even people's imaginations. But let me clarify once and for all, that I am single and raring to mingle."