Popular TV actor Harsh Chhaya says he is bored of playing roles of a father or family patriarch on the small screen.

The 'Swabhimaan' star feels the shelf-life of a TV actor is getting smaller because they do not have much to experiment with. "The scenario in TV is sad these days. If an actor is above 30, you can only play a father or a toothless family head. And if you are above 35 then you can only play a grandfather. All such offers kept me away from fiction for a long time," Harsh told PTI.

But the actor is returning to daily soap with a special appearance on Colors'

'Balika Vadhu', where he will be seen playing an obsessive painter who eventually falls in love with show's protagonist Anandi. "The role is quite off-the-routine. I am playing a painter, who is obsessive and rude in nature and has come to Udaipur to display his work. It's a small role. But my

character is a different person when he paints, he turns calm, poised, sensitive and gentle," he said.

Harsh started his career in showbiz when satellite television was at the nascent stage but did quality work on shows like 'Tara' and 'Hasratein' in the 1990s.


But as the content saw the downfall, Harsh ventured into films. "Earlier, if an actor was unemployed for two months he would remain in that situation maximum six months but now the scenario has completely changed. If an actor is unemployed for six months, then he has the chances of not getting offers for two years. There is a cut throat competition now," he said.

Harsh is also shooting Ekta Kapoor's 'Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye', where he will be seen opposite Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre and actor Apurva Agnihotri.