by Subhash K Jha

They're television's busiest couple. Says Hiten, "My working hours go up to 12-13 hours. While we participated in Nach Baliye, both my wife Gauri and I had more hours to put in. But I enjoyed it because it was a different experience from the soaps that we've been doing so far. We've never done reality tv before."

Hiten thinks reality television is here to stay. "But soaps will remain the no.1 entertainer.People will have more options to exercise. As for audiences getting their favourite soap stars on reality television, frankly we did it only for the thrill of a new experience."

Hiten's wife Gauri has cut down on her soaps. " But I'm there in several soaps, mainly in Kyunkii Saas Bhi Bahu Thi. I was introduced into it eight months after it started. And I've been there right through. I admit it has helped me to grow as an actor."

With both husband and wife working in serials Hiten admits there's no time for the couple to be together. "Sometimes when there's early pack-up Gauri and I do go out. Once in a while we do plan something after work. But that's rare."

He reminisces about his first meeting with Gauri. "We first shot an ad together. Then we did a soap Kutumbh together. That's when we fell in love. Long hours of working together has its advantages.

It's good to be in the same profession because then your wife knows exactly what your work entails and why you need to put in so many hours and behave in a certain way with co-stars."

But now Hiten is slightly worried about their future. "We would be starting a family. She's also very career-driven. But she knows whenever we start a family she'll have to sacrifice her career. In fact my wife has already cut down on her work on television. "

Even after marriage Hiten gets a lot of female attention. "I'm not being boastful. But people like my company. I try to talk to all my fans. There're lots of fans who call and sms every day. They want to know everything that's happening in my soaps and life.

Of course the attention can get unpleasant...like there was this fan who called at a particular time every evening. She started asking questions like why I needed to get married. I first reasoned with her.

Then when she said she wanted to marry me in spite of my marriage, I ticked her off and scared her with a police complaint. She stopped then."

Hiten agrees tv stars have a sustained fan following. "They relate to us far more intimately than the film stars."

In the same breath he admits he wants to be in movies. "In fact I've done a film called Anwar directed by Manish Jha.I was doing three soaps Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai, Kavyanjali and Kyunki....I'm happy with tv. I was offered so many roles in films. I did Anwar because I wanted to work with Manish Jha. I loved his Matrabhoomi ."

Hiten was born and brought up in Mumbai. "I first started modeling. Then I did theatre. One fine day there was auditions for Balajee and I was on. Since then I've been exlusively with Balajee except Meet on Zee with Anurag Basu where I replaced Vikas Bhalla. I always wanted to work with Anurag."

Hiten loves his work. "I'd never work outside Balajee. Whatever I've achieved is because of Ekta. There're so many talented actors in the industry. I got a chance because of her."