Thespians are usually sceptical about working with fresh directors, but talented actor Rajeev Khandelwal has no such hang-ups. He feels he benefits from the debutants' passion for filmmaking.
For his own big screen debut, 'Aamir', Rajeev worked under the direction of first timer Rajkumar Gupta. Even his second film 'Shaitan' was directed by newcomer Bejoy Nambiar, while his last release 'Soundtrack' was helmed by debutant Neerav Ghosh.
'As far as newcomers are concerned, I invest in someone who has the knowledge of filmmaking, someone who has a great script and content to offer,' Rajeev told IANS.
'I have worked with people who had been running around with their scripts for four to five years, wanting to make a film. I work with new directors because I know I will benefit from their passion. I am not vary or nervous about it at all,' he added.
Rajeev is a rare example of an actor who took a leap from the small screen to the big screen and tasted success. But he says his career path has always been unplanned.
'I have never thought about what kind of an image I want to build. I really don't know what kind of films I would do in future; I don't know what I want to do on TV next. My choice of work is never a conscious decision,' he said.
The actor first rose to popularity with Ekta Kapoor's TV show 'Kahiin To Hoga' in 2003. At the peak of his popularity, he chose to quit the show and move ahead. It was a risk, but he emerged back with a bang as Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat in 'Left Right Left'.
Later, he moved away from TV and went on to try his luck on the 70 mm screen, and his transition proved quite fruitful.
The 36-year-old now wants to do projects which have a human connect.
'I want to do films with human connect, but not really issue-based films. I also wish to direct films which have human connect to it. I can't do projects where my role is not humane and I don't even enjoy watching such films,' Rajeev said.
For now, Rajeev is busy connecting with common people as the host of the second season of controversial reality show 'Sach Ka Saamna'. Initially, the show was about people opening up their dark secrets on national television; for this season, the central theme has been changed to corruption.
The first season of the show found itself embroiled in controversy as the content was deemed to be vulgar, indecent and against good taste thanks to questions on sex and extra-marital affairs. However, Rajeev is quick to defend it.
'When we started the show, we had never thought that it would end up creating controversy. I knew this is a great show and would work well among the audience. I don't know why the controversy happened.
'It's not that the show worked because of the controversies. It was quite popular even before that. I went into a lot of debates and realised that it was nothing but hypocrisy, and trying to shield their own insecurities,' he said.
As far as the ongoing season, launched on new channel Life OK, is concerned, the actor said: 'The intention is not to create a revolution against corruption, or teach or preach. It's just an attempt to make you think about it, and we may start talking about it. After all, change happens when we start to talk about it.'
