There is talk going around that tv host and now big-screen actor Manish Paul is partnering with Sunil Grover and other comic actors for Grover's new show on Star Plus that goes on air in February.

Protests Manish, `Not true at all! I am not doing any stand-up comedy in Sunil's show. I am not a stand-up comedian. I am an anchor and an actor. I will be anchoring Sunil's show. He will be playing many characters while I will be hosting the content.Of course the two of us will get together for a lot of masti . But stand-up comedy is not my scene.`


Manish who is all set to be seen in the sequel to Tere Bin Laden says he continues to take television very seriously. `I think it's terribly ungrateful to abandon television as soon as you get a movie career. When I am asked if I used television as a stepping-stone I am appalled. I don't look at television as a means to an end. To me the home medium is as important as cinema.If 'Manish Paul' is today a known name it's because of television. Numerous middleclass families cannot afford movie tickets and wait for new films to be premiered on television.Housewives have their eyes glued to the television as they cut bhindis in a thaali.I love that audience.And it loves me back.Television will always remain my first love.`

That's exactly why Manish has chosen to take on the job of anchoring Sunil Grover's show. `It's not that much work .And besides it's only 26 episodes for now.So it's contained work, and very agreeable work, I might add.`

Besides lending Gutthi his anchoring acumen Manish is all set to do a very special song for his next film.

He excitedly informs, `It's my career's first lip-sync song, and it's going to be shot for the Tere Bin Laden sequel. I am really looking forward to it. There were songs in my first film Mickey Virus. But they were all in the background. This would be my first lip-sync song with full-on singing and dancing. I am a completely filmy guy and I love singing and dancing.`

The journey so far has been a happy one for Manish. `In 2013 I made my big-screen debut. The breadth-band of my popularity was increased with Mickey Virus. Though I am from Delhi I never feel like an outsider in Bollywood.`


People talk about his special camaraderie with Karan Johar and Manish laughs, `It started on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. Karan Sir and I hit it off instantly. And the bonding continues. At the nominations party for a popular awards this week where I was the anchor Karan Sir kept shouting, 'Manish leave the stage. You've spoken enough.' I retorted saying I was paid Rs 25 ,so I better deliver that much. Karan Sir hit back with, 'You've already spoken Rs 100 worth. Now stop.' That bantering with Karan Sir is something which everyone enjoys. I think I am liked in Bollywood.`