He came for just six episodes of Ekta Kapoor's brand new serial Thodisi Zameen Thodasa Zameen on Star. But playing the rebellious angry young man Sanjay Apte, what an impact Pawan Shankar made!

Though his character has now been bumped off as per the plot, the shy Pawan Shankar has caught Ekta Kapoor's attention. She immediately cast him as the new man in Banee's life in Zee's Kkasam Se.

Pawan informs shyly. "I playedhis suave US- returned NRI called Tarun Sablok. Ekta's brief about the character was he's someone jo soch-soch ke chalta hai. She says my character is akin to Mr Bajaj in Kasauti Zindagi Kay. "

Pawan surprises you by saying, "Ekta has been constantly offering me roles in her serials. She also offered me Sujal, the role that made Rajiv Khandelwal an overnight star.

It was so nice of Rajiv and Amna Sharif to tell me I'd have taken their show (Kahiin To Hoga) to a different level.Unfortunately at that time I was busy with my serial Siddhanth on Star One and I didn't want to divide my attention by doing another show."

Siddhanth in which Pawan Shankar played a conscience-stricken lawyer immediately brought Pawan into prime-time focus.

"Siddhanth is the only Indian tv show to be nominated for the prestigious Emmy awards. Though it didn't do well, I'm very proud of it," says the guy from Allahabad.

Right now it's the role of the angry young Sanjay Apte in Thodisi Zameen Thodasa Aasman which has got Pawan the optimum notice. "I'm amazed by the impact the role has made.

I can't pretend I wasn't aware of the character's importance to the plot. I was fully aware that I'd be there only for six episodes. But my role will resonate for a long time."

Sadly some of Pawan's best lines were edited out of his farewell episode. "It was the director who suggested I add thise lines. So I've no idea why they were left out. But I've no complaints.

I'm in search of roles on both the small and large screen which would challenge the actor within me. I had a small but satisfying role in Thodisi Zameen...I knew the character had depth and that's what I was looking for after Siddhanth."