SIR SUMEET RAGHAVAN

Sumeet Raghavan does not want to spoil his public image by showing his real self…
The straight-faced Saahil of the comedy soap Sarabai Vs Sarabai is finding it tough to shake off his image.

“I don’t want to be known as Saahil all my life. I would rather be known as Sumeet Raghavan”.

Yet he’s gone ahead with a comedy Panipuri, “Well, the two characters are very diverse. If Saahil was the agony aunt, then Vikas Pani is always falling into trouble. I won’t say it’s a novel idea but it’s the best thing that I could sink my teeth into. And I really can’t help doing a comedy because I simply love doing that.”

What about a social drama? “I simply can’t see myself doing one. As actors we have a short shelf life and I would rather maintain my exclusivity. Doing the same thing in a social drama can become very monotonous too. Also, male actors have very little to do, though some characters like Mihir in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Thi have made its own mark despite it being a women-oriented show.”

Raghavan, who has spent almost two decades in the industry (he started his career with Shrikant in 1985 and then got acclaim in the soap Faster Fenny in 1987) is not ready to compromise on quality, “I sat at home without work practicing on my harmonium for more than two years after Sarabai Vs Sarabai because there wasn’t anything worth my while. I know money is important to pay your bank loans and EMIs but I would still stick by good work.”

Would he do a reality show?

“Not a Bigg Boss for sure. I have an image like the quintessential nice boy Saahil of Sarabai… but in real life, I am quite stubborn and sometimes difficult. I wouldn’t want to spoil my image in public by showing my private self. Likewise, I would often ask Rupali Ganguly as to what made her do the show and she had no answer to it. She was always crying on the show which didn’t go well with her public image. I firmly believe that one would do a show like this only for money, publicity or due to lack of work,” he says indignantly.

He then justifies why he took part in the dance reality show, Say Shava Shava, “I won the competition. Many people including my wife asked me on camera to pursue a career in singing after that. But I am an actor and want to remain that,” he smiles.