TV is a big responsibility: Nakuul Mehta

That's what Amdavadis call me: Nakuul Mehta
Right from the hotel lobby to the porch and then from the stairs till the walkway of Sabarmati Riverfront -everywhere we only heard people saying : "That's Shivaay Singh Oberoi of Ishqbaaaz" and Nakuul Mehta was patient to pose for selfies with almost everyone who asked him! Basking in the glory of his onscreen character Shivaay that has given the actor a new identity as a serious biz tycoon, Nakuul confesses, "I was playing a sweet-guy-next-door fellow in my previous project Pyaar Ka Dard Hai... Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara -I am now glad to play a totally different character and such a prominent one." And though he hails from Rajasthan, Mehta's surname makes many people assume that he's a Gujarati. He has started loving to confuse people too! He says, "Many Gujaratis who meet me for the first time think aa aapno maanas chhe (he is one of our own). And many a times, I let that illusion settle into their minds because thanks to my wife Jankee, who is a Gujarati -I have picked the language pretty well."
Bing a son-in-law of Gujarat
Not many know that I have stayed in Ahmedabad for few months while I was in school. We stayed close to Law Garden and then I totally used to love going to Manek Chowk for its food and even bigger attraction was soft-serve ice-cream outlet near Panchvati -which was just one of its kind in the city around that time.It has stayed with me as a memory.And in Vadodara, I stayed for about two years in Alkapuri -loved that city for its cosy feel and the way it sticks to its traditions. And now, as a son-in-law of Gujarat -because Jankee is from Ahmedabad -I am spoilt and pampered. I love my share of delicious Gujarati food and being a foodie, that is something I crave the most for. Not only that, I have picked up the language pretty well and totally follow Gujarati traditions as perfectly as I do my Rajasthani rituals traditions. What I love about Ahmedabad is that the city has retained its heritage and culture just as nicely as it has accepted the modern ways. The Sabarmati Riverfront has left me awestruck. It really looks fabulous.

TV is a big responsibility
I'm glad to be getting shows of different dimensions on small screen.
I took a calculated risk waiting for right project, I waited for one and half year before signing Ishqbaaaz because I didn't want to get into the zone of being a stereotype and that way audience gets bored of seeing you in the similar roles. So, I got occupied with hosting India's Got Talent followed by producing a web-series. Waiting did pay well ­ I am glad to see the show picking such immense popularity in the times when many shows go off air in three months or even less span of time. I'm glad that the characters have become so iconic. But having said that, TV comes with huge responsibility you cannot take leaves, you cannot afford to fall sick, you have to stay fit as you are the face of the show ­ but when you love acting ­ all these things do not matter.
And now, as the show has completed one year, we have a three-month lapse and I have experimented with my dressing as well as streaked my hair for the first time ­ and loving this new look. The show will have more adventures added now.
Meet the real me
Whenever I get 3-4 days off, I ensure to pack my bags and start travelling. Art and history interest me so much that wherever I travel ­ I ensure to get an in-depth de tail about the history of that place. In fact, recently as my dad was working on a coffee-table book that puts up history of royal legacy ­ I helped him a bit with proof-reading it and in the final phase travelled with him as well for the research. I ensure to savour all the local delicacies of the places I visit. Second thing that interests me is sports ­ I love indulging in all the sports but the one close to heart is cricket. I have played cricket while I was in school and somewhere I guess Vadodara weaves or infuses that element of cricket in you! In fact, I took an day off from shoot to enjoy the Champions Trophy finale on Sunday.
WATCH: Nakuul Mehta