Vaquar Sheikh tells Jyothi Venktesh how he surprises himself with every role of his...

What is your role in Veeranwali?
I play the brother of Garima Kapoor who plays the title role of Veeranwali. It is indeed a very unusual role. In most of the shows that I have done till date, I have played either the title role or the stories have revolved around my character.

What has happened to your track as the big brother of the protagonist in the serial Veeranwali?
Though my character has ceased to exist in the serial, you never know when it will be resurrected by the channel or the producers, because today, all said and done, TRPs govern the serial and if the feedback says that the audiences have loved a particular character, the channel will reinstate the actor in the serial.

In what way is this show different from the others?
There is hardly any show which sets out to show the love between a brother and a sister on such a platform.

How tough has it been to get into the skin of your character?
It should not be tough for any good actor to get into the skin of his character because he is being paid to do exactly that. However, I should confess that it is a tough role for me to play for the simple reason that in real life I do not have a sister.

How do you prepare for your role?
We have brilliant writers who are often present on the sets and give the actor the scene and also tell what he or she has got to do.

What do you like the best about the serial Veeranwali?
The best part of the serial Veeranwali, according to me, is the excellent characterization of almost each and every artiste who is working in the serial, including the character of the Buwa.

Each one is a different albeit real character throbbing in flesh and blood and hence it is a refreshing change in this age when the 'saas bahu' shows rule the rostrum.

How was your experience of playing the brother in the serial?
I enjoyed playing the character of the brother as long as the character was part of the story. The best thing I liked about the show is that each and every brother could identify with the character of the brother that I played in the serial.

What is the reason that you are not being seen on the small screen after Veeranwali?
It is true that after my track in the show came to an end, I have not accepted any other serial. The reason is that I believe that one has got to wait for the right role instead of grabbing each and every role that is dangled in front of you and standing the risk of getting overexposed and becoming stale like some of the other actors on television.

Why have you not made headway as far as your career is concerned till date?
I am of the belief that when people recognize your face and know your talent, it is sad but also true that your assets can turn out to be your liability, especially when I go to a producer and seek a role as an actor.

I often feel that had I been just another new face without the baggage of experience of the last decade or so, it would have been easier for me to bag a role.

Do you think you have been short changed as an actor till date?
Yes. You can say that. In spite of having a reasonably good voice, a height of 6 feet with my shoes on, I am just not able to figure out why I have been short changed as an actor. Yet, I have absolutely no complaints at all because I believe in taking life as it comes along.

Who would you blame for this state of affairs?
I do not blame any one. It is just that fortunately or unfortunately I have always been a very low profile actor. In this age of high visibility when every actor vies with one another to outdo the others as far as gleaning media mileage is concerned, I had always believed that my work will speak for itself.

What is the reason that you have not bagged films like your colleagues like say Irrfan Khan or Kay Kay Menon have?
Till date, though the only film of mine which has seen the light of the day is Akbar Khan's Taj Mahal in which I had played the role of Dara Shikho, two digital films - Manzar and Koyi Gawah Nahin are yet to be released.

I agree that had I put on little more efforts, I would have been able to make a mark in films, too, as an actor, like Irrfan Khan and Kay Kay Menon who are doing quite well for themselves on the big screen. However, I still am quite optimistic and feel it is not too late for me to strike big in films.

What is your role in the film Manzar?
I play an army captain who is unfortunately captured by the mujahadeens in Manzar. It's a digital film, which has been directed by Abban, the wife of cinematographer Kiran Deohans and produced by Sunil Doshi, who has earlier produced Bheja Fry and Mixed Doubles.

It is a very interesting role of a guy who believes that all is fair in love and war, especially if it is for the sake of his country and uses the mujahadeen's daughter Sonali Kulkarni, who has fallen in love with him, to escape.

How do you feel when you look back at your career as an actor?
I feel elated that it is almost a decade since I had made my debut as an actor with television way back in the late 90s. It was Shatranj with which I made my debut with Rakesh Sarang as the director, for which I was even nominated for the Best Acting Debut. Till date, including Veeranwali, I have to my credit as many as 45 TV serials.

Which has been your best serial as an actor till date?
As an actor, it has always been my endeavour to keep on surprising myself with each and every role I do. I am of the opinion that as an actor my best is yet to come, for the simple reason that I believe that my time is yet to come though I have put in around a decade as an actor in the television industry.

Do you feel your age is a deterrent as far as making it in films is concerned?
Irrfan Khan, Kay Kay Menon etc have all made it in their 40s. Welcome was a big hit though it had Akshay Kumar who is 43, Anil Kapoor, who is 53 and last but not the least Nana Patekar who is 57. Age is no barrier when it comes to proving one's talent in films. -Jyothi Venkatesh