My character in 'Reporters' is an amalgamation of Rajdeep Sardesai and Arnab Goswami: Rajeev Khandelwal

Rajeev Khandelwal has now learnt the art of playing it cool no matter what kind of questions are thrown at him. It was interesting when the dishy actor narrated his dilemma with media and fans and how they’ve affected his personal life. He claims that being on social media is not his thing and if people think he’s not smart because of his decision, then so be it. In a tête-à-tête with me, the actor spoke about playing a journalist, the changes he wished the media concentrated on, how this show is not the end of his Bollywood career and his like-minded co-star Kritika Kamra. Read excerpts from the interview…

News or ethics - what is more important to you?

Now that I am in this world, I’d have to go with news but that is as Kabir, for Rajeev ethics will always come first. I understand the pressures people go through both as actors and journalists.

You’ve so far had a successful run in Bollywood barring a few misses here and there. So is this comeback to TV for good?

Initially, the questions would be that a lot of television actors have tried to enter movies from television and have failed, how will you work? Then people stopped asking about this ‘coz a lot of actors from TV started doing movies. Then when I did Sach Ka Saamna, people asked me if I’ve come back to TV for good? TV is not an easy medium, it’s is so tough that even big and great actors are unable to handle television. It can reject anyone; I’ve come back as a newcomer. I don’t expect people to watch this show because they love me since Kahiin Toh Hogaa days. This is my debut.

Has a lot changed in TV from then to now?

In terms of pressures I don’t think much has changed. In television, you are constantly in pressure to deliver day after day to keep up the numbers, unless you are making a finite series of 20 episodes. This is a 100 episode series so expectation will keep giving pressure. The way of shooting has changed; I don’t feel like I am shooting for a daily soap. Having done TV before tings were quite different back then, when I went to the movies, the cameras were bigger, lenses were more intricate, but now for this show we are shooting on a film camera. We have the same attitude be it film or TV show. I don’t feel the change in the medium in terms of the approach.

How has the response been to the promos of Reporters that have already gone on air?

Mindblowing! The response we’ve received is 200 per cent more than what I expected. We ran the promos for a very limited time, and it worked in spite of that. We got more than 11 lakh views in just a week, which is record for a television promo. When the promo was narrated to me, I knew it would be a hit as it conveys attitude of the show, bang on.

Do you have a favourite news reporter?

There is no one person, but off late I like Ravish Kumar from NDTV; he conveys his point of view very subtly without having to scream and yell. No I am not referring to Arnab. I am saying he conveys his point without being too dramatic. I also love Rajdeep Sardesai and Prannoy Roy.

So who is Kabir like in the show?

Kabir is an amalgamation of Rajdeep, Arnab Goswami, polished as Rahul Kanwal and Shekhar Guptaji.

Which medium of news do you give more weightage to?

Print is something I really like because it is still an art. It is not easy to make a point and give a perspective in a few words. It is very easy to make a point on electronic, but the magic of words is an art.

Should media get the freedom of speech and not be restricted?

I think media should be self-regulatory, you have to think about the consequences and realise that whatever you write about will affect people. Media needs to take responsibility for their words and know that it can create ripples. Journalists affect a mindset, if you are not conscious of that then it is just a business.

Being a celebrity, has your personal life ever been affected by media?

Yes, they have. When I was dating Manjiri, someone had printed an article with her picture stating that she is my girlfriend. I had asked and requested to not publish her picture because it would create problems at her place but they didn’t. I was told that the news is out that Manjiri is my girlfriend and they had her Facebook account, so if not them someone will put it up. I was worried because her parents would not be ready for it and considering they are not from a filmi background it could create problems. Overnight, I had to call up my parents and her family and warn them about it.

With so much going on in the world, what is the one news that you think media should concentrate on?

I think illiteracy is a big matter of concern and if that is taken care of then a lot of issues will sort themselves out.

How was it working with Kritika Kamra?

I was pleasantly surprised to see someone as passionate and committed as she is. She is completely in sync with all of us. She wants exactly what I want from the show. Very rarely, you get to meet like-minded people on the same show.

Are there any films in the pipeline?

I do have a movie lined up some time in June or July but frankly I want people to now concentrate on Kabir. I really hope nothing comes out just yet, but then that’s the producers’ decision.