by Subhash K Jha

From the illegitimate heir in the pathbreaking soap Swabhimaan to the hot-tempered young politician in Sarrkar, Rohit Roy excels at playing volatile characters.

Rohit has come a long way. From the flop large-screen hero opposite Suchitra Krishnamoorthy in Jazbaat to the popular tv star who gets mobbed ....While brother Ronit Roy has chosen to be loyal to Ekta Kapoor's Balajee Telefilms , Rohit(who obviously hero-worships his bhaiyya) has moved outside the Balajee cocoon. There are rumours that he and Ekta don't see eye to eye.

"I've just finished my work in Balajee's Kkusum. Both my wife and I have been part of Kkusum , though never at the same time. It's very funny. But by the time Manasi took over as Kkusum I had already left the serial. In fact I was in and out of Kkusum quite often."

"But I enjoyed it. I don't mind working in another Balajee soap if the role and set -up seem right. Some people may not like Ekta's way of working . But she runs a multi-crore empire.She knows what she's doing. And she's providing rozi-roti to so many out-of-work actors ."

Rohit recalls the trauma that his brother went through after his career in films refused to take off. "My mother and I went to every possible holy spot to pray for him. Our prayers were unanswered. I'm very proud of what my brother has achieved."

Speaking for himself, Rohit is still hopeful about a film career, "Cinema will always remain my first love. I can't let go of my dream. I thought Hriday Shetty's Plan last year was my new calling card in to Bollywood. The first-half went well. But something went completely wrong in the second half."

Talking about Pritish Nandy's Productions Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Rinot Says,"It did more of a cameo. I did it because I loved director Suparn Verma's script and for Pritish Nandy. They're kind enough to bill me as a guest in the credits. I don't want people to think I'm eager to run back to cinema. I'm happy doing my television which has given me everything. When I had done Swabhimaan ten years ago no one was ready for a daily soap. Now with Sarrkar I seem to have come at the right time."

Rohit admits his character in the political soap is patterned on Sanjay Gandhi.

"I'm very uncomfortable doing romantic roles. I like playing volatile characters. I'm quite similar to that character, hot-headed, though I've mellowed down down a lot after marriage and fatherhood. I don't want my daughter to be embarrassed by anything I do. That's why I select my soaps carefully. No more than one a time."

He now prepares to go into another soap, Ravi Chopra's Viraasat next year. "I guess Viraasat will overlap with Sarrkar. But it's worth it. It's a brilliant subject. And the Chopras are terrific producers. I'm looking forward to it."

He attributes the improvement in his acting skills to his wife. "Manasi comes from a family of actors. She's the actor in our family. I just lucked out. Before she told me how to improve myself I had the vanity to declare I wanted Rohit Roy to be revealed in every character I played. Manasi showed me how to get into character. I'm looking forward to working with her."

Rohit has been told more than once that he seems to be inspired by Rajesh Khanna's style of acting. "Even Anju Mahendrooji who played my mother ,told me during Swabhimaan I reminded her of Mr Rajesh Khanna. But believe me I've never studied his performances. It's just one of those wild coincidences."