/> Sandeep Sikcand's move from Balajee to Sony Entertainment has created quite a stir!

"And for what reason?" Sandeep opens up emotionally, " Honestly it created quite a stir in my mind. Didn't think it'd have the same effect outside. I was very clear that I was going nowhere from Balajee.

In fact at one time I had been offered a job by Sony and I said no. I just couldn't think of a life outside Balajee. Ekta and Balajee were my family. There were always these elements trying to create problems at Balajee when I was there.

One gentleman whom I don't want to name, sent an SMS to Ekta that I had joined Sahara when I was on leave and still editing Kkasam Se"

But Sandeep isn't in the blame game. "It was a painful but inevitable move. Not a day passes when I don't think about Balajee. I'm still in touch with some of my friends at Balajee. I bumped into a friend from Balajee the other day during Don. We hugged as though we'd be meeting in office the next day again."

Mention Ekta, and Sandeep's sorrow turns into discernible grief. "I can't pretend that our rapport isn't ruptured. She didn't expect me to leave, neither did I. But things had come to such a pass that I'd have left Balajee even if I didn't have another job at Sony."

The lacuna left behind by Sandeep at Balajee bothers him. "But I had no choice! The problem had intensified. Even the son of the house moves away from his parents. I had to do the same. My decisions were being questioned there...Let's not talk about it any more?"

He sighs and ends with a sigh. "I'm amazed Sony took me on. I've no corporate background. I'm just a creative person. I started my working life as a garment exporter. After that I did some theatre, and then joined Sony. So I don't have any corporate image.

Now I'm being watched with hawk's eyes just because I'm not a suited-booted corporate guy. Hats off to Sony. People are waiting for me to slip up. Why write my career obituary when I've just started. Will Sandeep Sikcand perform? Is he smuggler and a poacher? Yes, I've been called both!

Because I've smuggled and poached Smriti Irani and Amna Sharif away from Balajee. Bullshit! When you move away from an old house, you don't break its walls. I just want to tell everyone to shut up and mind their own business, and let me mind mine."

About Balajee actors and technicians moving towards Sony after Sandeep, the new head honcho explains, "Maybe people are coming to me because I'm approachable and not intimidating. I like to have fun at work.

But the minute anyone says he's coming to me at Balajee's expense, I say sorry. I'd never hurt my parent company. Even at Balajee I was the most transparent person around, always available to anyone who wanted to. I'll make mistakes, but new ones. I'm lucky to have fantastic bosses at Balajee and now Sony."

Sandeep's first effort post-Balajee is Kajal. "I took over when the show was already planned. I hope I've done a competent job. So far the feedback has been very positive. Yes, there're technical glitches. I'm happy I've started at Level 2, so I can go up to Level 10.

I've never claimed to be doing a path-breaking show in Kajal. In fact I've adhered to the formula that we used at Balajee. Yes, the Mussourrie location and cast are refreshing.

But I deliberately chose to tell the story in a way viewers are used to. Let's be honest. Sony needs to get the eyeballs back."

Sandeep's two new babies are the reality shows Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and Bigg Boss. "Bigg Boss is a challenge. It's reality soap. After Bigg Boss I've Anuj Saxena's production about a girl searching for love who gets widowed instead.

There's also Smriti Irani's new show Viruddh coming up in January. Then I've Tony and Deya Singh's Jeeta Hain Jiske Liye which has Renuka Shahane making a comeback. This show didn't need a girl, it needed a woman. You know, I always wanted to work with Renuka at Balajee.

As creative head there I had called her up twice. I think all the things that I couldn't do at Balajee are being done now."

He gets emotional again. "I just want to make Ekta proud."