Eijaz Khan makes a comeback with Saba Mumtaz and Rahul Kumar Tewary’s Yeh Moh Moh Ke Dhaage on Sony. Here he speaks about the show.
Tell us about your role…
I play Mukhi. The character is that of a mature man who had to take up a lot of responsibility at a very young age. So he had to look older than his age.
I have gained ten kilos for the role. I have never played a character like this before. The response has been good so far. It’s an interesting love story which will connect with audiences.
You were keen on pursuing a career in Bollywood and didn’t want to be on TV shows, but you are back on the small screen. What changed?
In TV, you are at the mercy of a lot of people. I don’t mean that as an actor I want to be in total control, but at least, I need a minimum guarantee of quality control, something in which a TV actor has no say. An actor should take credit when the show works as it is a big part of his job. For my new show, the makers altered my character several times and I’m grateful to them for making an interesting show.
Do you feel restricted as an actor?
It depends on the kind of roles that come my way. I have never felt restricted. I was lucky that I walked into Balaji post my engineering stint. Without any experience, I was signed for three years, thanks to Ekta. They had faith in me though I was a bad actor.
What about marriage plans?
It’s a big question for me. I think it is a beautiful thing people believe and indulge in, but I don’t believe in it. You fall in and out of love so many times; it’s too much to deal with.
It’s often noticed, most senior actors are paired with actresses half their age. Does it get awkward?
It has its pros and cons. Their innocence, enthusiasm and faith in life is beautiful. At times, it rubs off on you, so it is good. They haven’t become cynics yet. The cons would be lack of work experience. Everyone thinks they can be actors, but success comes only to a few. In my first two shows, I couldn’t stop shaking my head in every scene. I was having fun, I didn’t know what I was doing. As for being awkward, it’s a role and at the end of the day you follow the script.
Do you believe people in the showbiz industry are fake?
Actors have fragile egos. Every day they are putting themselves out to be judged. Half their life goes in convincing themselves that they are good at what they do; and that takes a lot out of a person. So, there is nothing wrong in being fake. I have a few friends who are genuine and eventually you find your tribe.
Have you considered exploring the web space?
Yes, I just hope someone casts me. My brother, Imran, is an ad filmmaker; he is blunt and tells me he will never cast me. The moment your face comes in front of the camera it carries the baggage of television. For the digital space, they need a fresh look, but TV doesn’t mind being jaded. I am waiting to meet the right people.