/> He's just taken a long-needed holiday for a couple of days. Eijaz Khan has had a troubled life. A ruptured childhood, a strife-torn adulthood and a traumatic relationship in the past have left him scarred...and scared.

"My work is my only escape route. I slog like a maniac. And I don't like any interference in my work. In fact I don't carry my phone on the sets, and hate it when others do the same.

I don't meet anyone because by the time I finish my shooting and gym it's 2 am. The last thing I can think of at that time is social interaction, specially after the kind of attention I've been getting."

Eijaz is referring to fans who become over-persistent. "There're four or five really insistent fans from across the world who think I'm their lover. It's quite scary.These are women who have nothing to do in life except to entertain themselves by fantasizing about known faces.

I won't encourage them. I think my fan base has increased, sometimes for the better. There're hardcore loyalists who point out my mistakes. I like that kind of attention."

Though his flag-ship serial Kavyanjanli is off the air, Eijaz continues to be popular. "At least I now have the time to get a hair cut and go to the dermatologist. My skin has been suffering more than my soul lately." Eijaz is frank enough to admit he enjoyed Kavyanjali much more than his other serial Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka, and not just because he had his lady-love Anita for company in the former. " Kavya... was far more grand.

I got to do things like jump off a cliff, shoot in a fire sequence, run to Film City in the middle of the night for a shot. Nimmo was far more restrained. We went through the social-drama element in the plot."

As for his Nimmo co-star, "I let her be. I don't have to talk to her at all.Sometimes I just wipe off people from my universe."

Characteristically reticent, Eijaz has recently re-discovered love. He's in love with none other than Ekta Kapoor's best friend Anita /Natassa who was also Eijaz's co-star in Kavyanjali. Ekta is all for the match because she thinks Eijaz is a great guy.

Eijaz laughs. "Did she really say that? Very sweet of her. Ekta and I share a great working relationship. We respect each other's work. As for Anita, my friendship with her is something I don't want to hype. A relationship involves two people. I wouldn't want to talk on the other people's behalf. It's too soon to discuss in public. I hope it grows into something meaningful."

Marriage? "Too soon to say. But let's hope so. I do derive a lot of satisfaction from my work. But at the end of day, I do need an anchor. God has blessed me with a troubled life. But I believe what we get on our plate is what can deal with."

On Eijaz's brimming plate is a serial for Ekta Kapoor's new Gulf channel. "That's just a kick-start thing, only the first fifteen episodes. It's just a cameo appearance."

Eijaz is restless but not in the mood to do another serial. "That just provokes compromise. There's no time even now."

No time to spend with lady-love? "I make do with whatever time I have. I don't try to create a balance between work and a personal life."

As for marriage. "No point in planning. God always has other plans."