Ruslaan Mumtaz on his journey from silver screen to TV, his date dilemma and more in a chat.
So how has the shift from films to television been like? You had made your Bollywood debut with Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar in 2007. What made you wait this long to get on to television? I am an actor, and as long as I am getting to act, the medium doesn't matter. I was offered TV shows earlier as well, but I was not sure about doing a television show at that time. But the script of Jee Le Zaracleared my doubts. And now I'm enjoying working on small screen as the feedback is instant and so far has been positive. You come to know almost immediately whether your show is working or not.
Acting has been in your genes (your mother is yesteryear character actor Anjana Mumtaz). So was it any easier to make a debut in films? Not at all. Infact, my mother was against the idea of me becoming an actor. When I started doing theatre, I asked mom to come and watch my play — and she later asked me not to act. But I went ahead with my decision of being an actor and prove it to her that I could act. I never used any of her sources for getting work. And I don't even know if I had taken her help it would have helped me getting better roles, but I never wanted to depend on anyone for my career. So I have had my own share of struggles and I am glad that whatever I have achieved today has been on my own merit. I am a self-made man.
You were the first choice to essay Jamal Mallik's character in Slumdog Millionairewhich Dev Patel eventually did. Do you feel sad that things did not work out and regret that your career would have headed in a different direction altogether if that film had happened? Of course, it feels bad. I auditioned at least four times for the same role. It would be difficult to say how it would have affected my career, but it's better to move on in few cases, rather than feeling sad or sorry about it. That film was not in my destiny.
Tell us about your bond with your mom. I'm a total mom's boy. It was she who inspired me to become an actor. As a teenager, I was full of myself and never listened to her. But now, we are more like friends and I can share everything with her.
What do you prefer doing when not working? I am a fitness freak — so when I am not shooting, I go to the gym. I also watch a lot of movies and catch up with my friends who are doing theatre and see them perform. Also, I like travelling a lot — usually I make a couple of trips every year, but I don't think that can happen now since I am busy with television.
There were reports about you dating Sasha Agha. I was too young and have had too many girlfriends. I realized that girls from within the industry are very dramatic, even off the camera. Many a times their reactions would startle me. It was too much to take. I don't want to date anyone from B'wd again.
Are you dating anyone currently? No. I'm single right now. And if I do get into a relationship it will be marriage. I won't ask a girl out, instead I will ask her 'Will you marry me?' Iguess I have become matured now and look forward to settling down in life.
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