by Subhash K Jha

Rohit Roy regrets the end of his current daily Sarkar. "I don't know why it didn't work. So why didn't this popularity show up in the TRPs? Anyway I enjoyed playing a character that was inspired by Sanjay Gandhi. But if you ask me it could be the story of any political dynasty.

Why couldn't Ronit and I have been Udhav and Raj Thackeray? I really enjoyed playing this character. But now I'm already well into my new daily Viraasat which gives me a chance to play another character altogether."

In Ravi Chopra's Viraasat Rohit is cast as what he calls a blend of Aamir Khan in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Akshaye Khanna in Taal. "It's a character that believes in love.

Though again I'm volatile it isn't an in -your-face aggressive character. I co-star with Sangeeta Ghosh. But I wish someone would cast me with my wife Manasi."

He cheers up considerably while talking about her. "Our friends say we share an iconic marriage. Now I know what they mean. I'm married to the most amazing woman I've ever met. And I know there's a lot of temptations in the tv industry.

But trust me, I'm never ever tempted to bite into the forbidden apple. The risk is just not worth taking...not when I've the most perfect family life."

Rohit admits there are temptations galore. "But where's the time to even think of any diversion? I work like a horse, head to the gym and then head home to be with my wife and daughter...Seriously I don't know how my colleagues find the time to do two dailies at a time.

I'm glad to see Sarkar out of the way before Viraasat came on. It's more than enough work for me. I don't understand how my brother Ronit does so much work. It's crazy. But I don't try to stop him.

He's gone through a seven-year period of exile when he had no work. I understand how much the work-load means to him."

Ronit and Rohit are the ony two successful siblings working together on television.

"Yes I'm not aware of any other pair of successful siblings on TV. I remember an astrologer had said both of us cannot be equally successful in the same profession. I'm glad we didn't listen to him. I don't believe in astrology. I believe in destiny. And I believe one can be the architect of one's own destiny."

He enjoys the good things of life. "Sure I like my cars. I've three. And I've earned them. I do charge a decent amount. But I'm still underpaid. And my price varies according to what the producer can afford. I cut down on my price for Manish Goswami since he was going into a new area in Sarkar."

Volatile by nature, Rohit says he has mellowed after marriage. "But my two most successful roles on tv Swabhimaan and Sarkar both had me playing angry characters. That image is going to change with Viraasat.

I must tell you Shobha De who wrote Swabhimaan and Sarkar considers me her lucky mascot, and I consider her mine. Funnily she had rejected me for Swabhimaan. Those days I went around with ear rings long hair trying to look like a punk. It was Mahesh Bhatt who insisted on me. Thank God for that. Otherwise I wonder where I'd have been!"

Rohit was in the news for championing the cause of cricketer Sourav Ganguly.

"People thought I spoke up for him because we're both Bengalis, and because I'm crazy about cricket. Both true. And in fact I'm soon participating in a charity match in Dubai. But the real reason I stood up for Sourav is, I like to stand up for what I believe in. I don't claim to be Medha Patkar. But yes, I'm vocal about things I believe in."