'Table No. 21' actor talks about shying away from the limelight and having fans among small town folks

Telly actors moving to the big screen is not new in the industry. However, Rajeev Khandelwal managed to carve a space for himself in Bollywood right with his debut film Aamir. After a gap of more than a year, he'll be seen next in an action thriller. In a tete-a-tete, the Jaipur -born actor talks about career, co-stars and cinema.

Don't you fear being stereotyped as a serious actor?
Not really. I'm just doing a different kind of cinema. It's funny how those who told me that I wouldn't be able to break the romantic image I created on TV are now saying that I'm doing serious roles (smiles). Talking of films, I'm still waiting for a classical romance to come my way. Until that happens, I'm going to continue with movies that excite my sensibilities.


What kind of roles are you looking forward to?
I don't know what kind of roles I want but I do know what kind of roles I don't want to do. I could be stupid in my choice but I don't have a dream role either.

If at all, my dream role has to be something that I haven't dreamt of yet something that piques my interest and makes me sit up while reading the script. I stopped dreaming after Aamir because I learned that the best films are the ones from which you expect the least.

Your last film Soundtrack happened back in 2011. Isn't that too long a gap?
Whatever good I've done in my career, I don't want to wipe that off with some bad decisions taken in panic. Besides I have plenty of time and I'm not insecure. I'm patient enough to stay away from the limelight. I'm not overtly ambitious either and I don't see myself in a race against time or fellow actors.

Talking of co-stars, how was it working with Paresh Rawal?
Pareshji has been very kind to me. He was the first senior actor to applaud me for my performance in Aamir. From being a fan to working with him has been nothing short of a wish come true.


Will you go back to television?
As of now I don't have any plan in place but if something interesting happens, I'll surely go ahead. After all, didn't I go back to Sach Ka Saamna right after my debut film? I owe it to the small town folks who still write to me saying that they'd love to see me in TV shows. Having said that, I'm here to stay.