A host of emotions

Having essayed some memorable roles and having hosted the popular reality show Sacch Ka Saamna, Rajeev Khandelwal is now eager to show audience a different side of his personality. “I want to consistently fall, rise and expand my bandwidth as an actor. People think I must be this reserved guy, who doesn’t talk much, or must be arrogant. People come with all kinds of preconceived notions about me. Perhaps in JazzBaatt you’ll see another side of mine which may just break your notions for a bit,” observes Rajeev, who was in Delhi recently to talk about Zee TV’s new light-hearted celebrity chat show where celebrities will reveal interesting facts about their life and career.

Excerpts:

What made you accept “JazzBaatt”?

JazzBaatt is a sort of candid, quirky, easy on the eyes chat show where I interact with celebrities in order to reveal interesting tales about their life and career. I took it because this was right after Sacch Ka Saamna and I found it to be a natural progression. I wanted to go forward and didn’t want to host something which didn’t have that kind of weight. This is something which has weight, depth and so I agreed to do it. I was offered a lot of shows but they were about anchoring, I wanted to host.

You have been dynamic in your choices...

Because I want to consistently fall, rise and expand my bandwidth as an actor, as a performer. I should be able to host a radio show, talk to the press, and perform in front of the camera. How will I achieve all that if I continue to play one type of characters? If I had not been the host of a show called Sacch Ka Saamna, I would’ve never known that I could host and talk to people. I did that knowing that if it doesn’t work it can take away my branding, but if it works, it will open new doors.

But in the past you have been known to be an intense personality or an actor who dabbles in romantic roles...

There is always some impression or the other. Like right now I’m going to battle the impression which the audience have formed after watching me as a host of Sacch Ka Saamna. Now if I keep thinking about that I don’t think I can add another dimension to my personality. I can very easily play the things that I’ve done in the past. It’s easier, but then what is the fun in playing safe?

So you are a risk taker...

Absolutely. The riskiest thing in life is to play safe. If you can’t risk it, you can’t achieve it.

How would you describe himself?

I’m a very ordinary guy.

Why do you say that?

We are all different in our own ways but I don’t know how to describe ‘extraordinary’. I have no such talent which make me extraordinary. I think I am probably good at a few things. For example, I’m persistent, focused and honest to myself and that makes me ordinary.

You’re being modest...

No, I’m not. I’m being honest. Sometimes honesty is mistaken as modesty. People say, ‘he loves meeting people’, but I do love meeting people; ‘how humble he is; he eats with his hands’, but I do love eating with my hands. What can I do?

Have you always been like this?

I am a positive person because even when I was in Delhi and I didn’t have money to buy two spare meals, I used to say to myself “what an interesting chapter of my autobiography this would be if you come out of it.” I remember having raw egg with milk because you could eat your breakfast in 15 rupees and you’re getting protein with that.I have high self-esteem and that is what keeps me positive.

And in childhood...

Even though I was an above average student, I wasn’t very studious. I was rather more into extracurricular activities like mimicry, debating, singing and other outdoor activities like tennis, swimming, horse-riding, rope-climbing. I wouldn’t say that I was good at any of them but I sure loved the attention I used to get when I went on stage.

If you have to title your autobiography, what will it be?

And, there was Rajeev Khandelwal…