While his character has been put on hold, Khera cannot stop fuming at his producers' behaviour though. Vidya Prabhu caught the actor in a candid mood, and grilled him about Jassi, and his forthcoming serials and films.
Your role in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin has apparently come to an end...
I am not permanently out of the serial. It's just that my role has been sidelined for now.
When will you be back?
I am as clueless about it as you are!
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What was your reaction when the producers told you about your role being put on hold?
Would you come back if they were to call you again?
I can't say anything right now. Let them call me first!
Didn't the role of Maddy propel you to fame?
It did help me get recognition. For the first time, my co-stars called to congratulate me and appreciate my work.
Does that make Maddy your favourite among all roles you have played so far?
It was a different role, a challenge in that I was playing a gay character, as opposed to the negative roles I was playing until then. So it helped me break the mould and display my versatility. But it would be unfair to call it my favourite as I equally loved doing the roles of Gautam in Tara, Ranjit in Swabhimaan and Rastogi in Saaya, not to mention my work in the serial Patang.
How did acting come about?
I always wanted to be an actor. Even as a child, I would participate in skits and dramas. I had no guidance to pursue acting right away though, so I dabbled in marketing, appeared for various competitive exams -- just because my friends were doing the same thing -- and made no headway. When I was 24, I finally decided to pack my bags and come to Mumbai to pursue acting. One year down the line, bingo! I landed the role of Gautam in Tara. That's where it all began.
It needs to be a substantial role, and not necessarily a big one. Then, of course, there's the money aspect.
You have never worked on any of the saas-bahu serials...
I've never been offered a role by the makers of these serials.
Almost all of your roles have been negative roles...
Yes, I was slotted in that category. But then I don't exactly have the chocolate-boy looks.
Your ideal role would be...
The one essayed by Al Pacino in the movie Scent Of A Woman. I would also love to play the role of an army man. As a matter of fact, I did play the role of a BSF jawan in the movie Tango Charlie, but I would like to do more such roles.
Any regrets?
I regret doing only five roles in a career spanning 11 years. I wish I could do many more.
What are your forthcoming projects like?
I am doing a movie called Gabbarsingh.com. It is an out and out fun movie, more along the lines of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. It stars Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Suri among many others. I play the role of an assasin, Rajan Pillai. It's a serious role with negative shades. As for TV, I will soon appear on a serial called Sixers, which will go on air in August. It revolves around cricket, cricketers, matchfixing, the works. I play the role of Dan, a star player's manager.
Do you plan to take up movies full time?
I want to strike a balance between TV and films. But yes, movies get you more recognition, more money. Also, things are much more planned when it comes to shooting for a film. In that sense, movies are a better deal than TV, which lacks on the grounds of both, creativity and planning.