Iqbal Khan has jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

The actor, who now plays a fighter pilot in Miditech's 'Choona Hain Aasman', on STAR One, is celebrating, regardless of the fact that he has walked out of Ekta Kapoor's life, to join hands with Sandeep Sikand.

Q. What is it like, doing a show based on the Air Force?
A. It is not a show based on the Air Force, as in, we are not trying to show the audience how a plane takes off, or what machinery is used. The show is about the life of defence personnel, their lives and relationships.

Q. And you have already shot for 32 episodes?
A. (Surprised) I have? I thought we had shot only 4 or 5.

Q. How do you feel when your work is appreciated?
A. It is a wonderful feeling, when your hard work bears fruit.

Q. Tell us something about the character.
A. I play Abhimanyu Adhikari. He is a man of few words, and principles. He believes that rules make our lives better, and we should follow rules for a better society.

Q. Are you working on any other show?
A. I am playing the lead in a daily show already, and that is a tough job. You cannot think of doing another show.

Q. You have played various roles in various shows. How did you prepare for this one?
A. I have not made any deliberate attempt to do something different. I am lucky I got this chance to portray a different character, though.

Q. Do you think real defence personnel will identify with the characters in this show?
A. We are showing the normal life of people - their relationships, sadness, happiness - like all other shows. We are just showing it with a different perspective, and this need not apply only to defence personnel. The Air Force is just a backdrop.

Q. You did a little bit of comedy in the show. Will you be doing that more often?
A. It was just a situation that the writers had created; there was no effort from my side.

Q. Any favourite scene from what you have shot so far?
A. (Thinks) The entire Jaipur schedule was memorable. This is the first time I sat in a Sukhoi, one of the best fighter planes in India. That was a wonderful experience.

Q. You have worked in both serials and films. Any film we should watch out for?
A. No, not really. The television industry is so demanding that you cannot think of anything else. This is my show, and I am dedicated to it, so that leaves me with nothing else to think of. - Sonu Anand