No serials for me at all: Shiv Pandit

And if we do catch him in one, it���ll be because he���s either broke or bored. A household name post IPL, Shiv Pandit tells he���s patiently waiting for that one hit.
You became the face of the IPL. How did it happen?
I landed on TV by default. I���m a die-hard actor at heart and had been acting in commercials for quite some time. Simultaneously, I was chasing a film career.The channel broadcasting IPL decided to zero in on faces the youth could relate to and since they���d seen my commercials, they thought I could do the job.
Post IPL, how has the response been from the public?
In 2004, I had acted in a movie called Let���s Enjoy, after which the work offered to me was not particularly great. I didn���t want to take a hasty decision so early in my career and so I decided to lie low. But with IPL, my profile took a major jump. I always feel, that in life you are only one hit away from success.
I feel now that if I���m patient, I am not too far away from that one hit. Today, when I go out, I have people recognising me and calling out my name. It���s a great honour to be known by your name. IPL has put me on the map in a big way and I���m thrilled about it. Good or bad, I have been able to leave some sort of impression on people���s minds. The fact that I was noticed, is enough.
Do we get to see Shiv Pandit acting in a Bollywood pot-boiler or a saas-bahu serial?
No serials for me at all. Ninety-nine per cent of content on television is regressive in nature. I don���t enjoy these serials, the values here are very old school and I don���t want to be associated with something I don���t believe in. The day you catch me doing these serials, you���ll know that I���m either broke or bored! As for films, I have been getting offers but I���m yet to accept anything as I feel that none of these films will do much for my career. I want to be part of films that will boost my career.
Who���s your fave leading lady? Who would you want to act opposite in Bollywood?
I love women. Each and everyone has her own distinctive quality. So I cannot pick any single favourite actor.
What would you prefer, masala flicks or slice-of-life films?
I would like to do everything and anything under the sun. At the starting point of my career, I don���t want to limit myself to a set genre.
Stage or films, which is your first love?
Stage is undoubtedly my first love. Theatre made me yearn to do films. The stage is grander and more thrilling. The time during which you prepare for a play helps you master the art. For me, acting is about concentration and confidence and the stage has helped me concentrate as well as gain confidence. My theatre background has been of great help.
From radio to commercials to IPL, what next?
Films, in a big way. I���m already doing a film down South. I want to expand my horizon and try and act in all kinds of movies, irrespective of the language. I���d also love to do a Bengali film. I don���t want to shut the doors on anchoring either. But I���ll not host any and every programme. I���ll try and maintain the quality of IPL and keep it exclusive.
How are you preparing for the role in your Tamil film?
The chief assistant director of the movie had come to Mumbai and he had translated the script into English for me. But though my voice will be dubbed in this film, I���m trying my best to learn the language. My diction though, is not very bad. In a way, the fact that I���m not from the South, helped me prepare for the film and concentrate on my work.
At first, when I was offered the film by
Mr Ravichandran, who���s also the producer for Kamal Hasan���s Dasavatharam, I did not understand the enormity of the offer. For someone hailing from the South, it would have put a lot of pressure to know that you are working under such a big banner. Till today, the fact that I���m working with him hasn���t sunk in. I���m still cool about it.
Are you seeing someone right now?
No, I���m not. I���m single but not ready to mingle. I���m totally focussed on my work.
peden.bhutia@timesgroup.com