Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Being second to someone doesn’t matter to me: Ruslaan Mumtaz - PTI

Monday, 12 August 2013 - 08:09 PM IST
Bollywood actor Ruslaan Mumtaz is excited about his debut on television and considers the small screen as a powerful medium to reach out to people. 

Ruslaan, son of actress Anjana Mumtaz, features in Kehta Hai Dil Jee Le Zara, a romantic drama which will be aired on Sony entertainment channel from August 15. 


The 31-year-old, who made his Bollywood debut with Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar in 2007, is paired opposite Sangeeta Ghosh, a well-known TV actress who became a household name with her character Pammi in hugely popularly show Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand. 
“The show has a fantastic team — Sangeeta Ghosh, Siddharth Sengupta, Niranjan Iyengar and others. For me, to refuse such an offer would have been stupid because if these people ever make a film, I might not feature in that film and the only way to work with them is on TV,” Ruslaan said. 

He was nervous working with Sangeeta, he added. “I always worked with new actors; I never worked with established actors. I needed to be a little bit prepared while doing scenes with her,” he said. 

The show chronicles the life of 34-year-old Saanchi (played by Sangeeta), a strong, selfless, free-spirited woman living on her own terms and spreading happiness in and around her dear ones. But destiny works in mysterious ways and Dhruv Goel (Ruslaan), a suave and wealthy lawyer, walks into her life. He seeks to change Saanchi’s outlook towards her own life. 

Ruslaan, who has also worked in films like Dangerous Ishhq and I Don’t Luv U, is amazed with the reach of small screen. 

“I have realised that TV is a powerful medium. In recent times, I have been interacting a lot with TV actors and I see their fame and success. And somewhere I felt that since I am an actor and I can be in that position, why I am holding myself back? Just because I want to do films? And I changed my mindset,” said Ruslaan.  

Ruslaan is comfortable with the fact that most TV serials are woman-dominated and this will be no different. “I am just going to honestly do my work and if people connect with that, I am happy. For me, being second to someone does not matter. I am happy about having a place of my own.”

The actor was at the centre of a controversy some years ago over an MMS featuring Sasha Agha, his then girlfriend. Apparently, an MMS of Sasha was leaked in which she was seen with another man. Sasha, daughter of singer-actress Salma Agha, accused Ruslaan of leaking the MMS to the media. The row took its toll on their relationship and the two parted ways.

When asked about that episode, Ruslaan said, “I have no memory of that. Life is long and heart breaks are such that you have to get over them. You have one life, so you must ignore the bad things. But one must not forget the good things either. I am an optimist. That is my approach towards life.” 




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