He is fast winning himself a loyal fanbase with his anti-hero act in Mohe Rang De. But a conversation with him reveals that this is just one of the many hats he has worn in his diverse career. He has modeled on television, participated in pageants, acted in music videos, ads, and several movies, including a Punjabi film under the Yash Raj banner. Recently, he also won the adventure reality show Fear Factor. His natural ease in front of the camera belies the fact that his journey into stardom is purely accidental. Gavie spoke to Vidhya Krishnan about work and life beyond work.

On his role…
Mohe Rang De is a love story set in pre-independence India. I play Rajveer, an arrogant lawyer who has spent ten years in England. His sense of dressing reflects his affinity for the English way of living. He returns to India a little before the Quit India Movement is to begin. Unlike the Indian nationalists, he believes in the British Government and the reforms brought in by them. His British leanings earn him the ire of Indian nationalists. The twist in the plot arrives when he falls in love with a lady fighting for the Indian independence.
<br />How he got the role…
A friend of mine suggested that I audition for this role. Though daily soaps were not high on my agenda, the unconventional story line fascinated me. I auditioned and got selected. I found the subject very interesting. Rajveer is not a freedom fighter but is still the lead character in the story.

The challenging bit…
The character I play is an arrogant and rigid person, something that is a stark contrast to my personality. I had to work really hard on my mannerisms and body language initially. I worked with my director to get it right. Now all I have to do is get dressed and Rajveer and the other nuances of his personality follow naturally.

Roles I like…
I am not very choosy about roles but I ensure that I don't take up run of the mill scripts. I prefer roles that are unique and challenging.

The balancing act between personal and professional life…
Working for a daily soap leaves me with very little time for myself. It's been a while since I met my family and took time off. But I just keep in mind that I am here to do my job and focus on my career, which is my number one priority. The balancing act is difficult but I don't let these things affect me. When I do get some time off, I rest as much as I can, work out in the gym and catch up on the latest movies.

If not an actor, I would be....
A Mechanical Engineer working in some part of the USA. Acting is something that happened by chance. I was involved in a lot of cultural activities in school and I knew I had the potential. What I didn't know is that my hobby would become my profession.

Small screen vis--vis big screen…
Both of them require good acting skills but the stress levels are different. The big screen allows you more time compared to the small screen, which is very hectic. I personally love working for the big screen.

Daily soaps vis--vis Reality shows…
Daily soaps are tough because you have daily deadlines. I prefer reality TV. Shows like Fear Factor and Bigg Boss are different and we need more of such concepts.

On TV, I watch…
Sports and Tom & Jerry cartoon.

Other projects…
Apart from Mohe Rang De, I am doing a few Punjabi movies. I am sufficiently busy with these.