"There is only one word to describe 'Meri Doli...' - Freshness" : Gaurav Khanna

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Gaurav Khanna, who is now playing the lead in Zee's brand new serial 'Meri Doli Teri Angna', had never thought of taking up a career in acting, but it just happened to him. He is an MBA who worked as a marketing executive, who came into acting by chance. However, today he is enjoying his new profession to the hilt and plans to make it big in Bollywood someday. He is very confident that his new serial 'Meri Doli Tere Angna' would certainly do very well. We talked to him about the show and what makes it different from the usual. Here is the excerpt.

How is the experience playing the lead in a new serial?
It is a great feeling that I'm playing the lead along with two ladies.

The name of the serial as well as two leading ladies opposite the male lead suggests that it is a kind of a love triangle relating to marriage ?
In a way, it can be called a love triangle, but if you see the promos, initially it is about marriage and then going by the name 'Meri Doli Tere Angna', it is something like that too.

What is your character in the serial like?
I play the youngest son of a business family who is a sober and quiet guy - something like a Ram. He has the qualities, which every mother would like to have in his son. My character's name is Ruhaan.

So how much do you relate to your character?
Actually I wish I were something like this character so that my mother would be happy. I do resemble the character sometimes, but my mother does not want to believe it. I wish she does believe me sometime after watching me in the serial.

Is this your first assignment?
It is my first assignment for Zee, but if you recall, I have played a character named Shravan in 'Kumkum'.

Tell us a little about your background ?
Ok. I came to Mumbai in July 2003 for reasons, which are in no ways related to acting. I came here to do my MBA and after completing it, I also worked as a marketing manager in a firm for about nine months. Acting was never on the cards.

So how did it happen?
One day I was exercising at the gym when a person thought that I am some model and offered me an advertisement. I did that and then it continued. Till date, I have done over a dozen advertisements and also ramp modeling.

Then, how did you get your first break in television?
Actually, I do not know myself. May be the B.A.G people saw me in my advertisements and I got selected for the role in 'Kumkum'.

Your producer Rahul Bhatt is an actor himself. How much does he guide you people?
Rahul is fun to be around with. Whenever he is on the sets, he always keeps us entertained. Moreover, he is an understanding person because he knows the struggles and the difficulties an actor goes through. He is never cribbing about things.

Do you feel it is an advantage to have an actor-turned-producer on the sets?
I would say yes, it is an advantage.