‘It’s difficult for anyone to take me for a ride’

My dad is the best judge of people, and having learnt this from him, I always know people’s intentions RITHVIK DHANJANI, ACTOR

Actor Rithvik Dhanjani shot to fame for his portrayal of Arjun in TV show Pavitra Rishta (20092014) and has never looked back. The 29-year-old has since gone on to participate in a number of reality shows, including Nach Baliye and So You Think You Can Dance, all the while making a name for himself as a quick-witted and funny TV show host.

But every actor has a beginning. Rithvik tries to recall how he bagged his first acting assignment. “I was only auditioning for ads at that time. One day, I was heading home with a friend, but he asked if I could wait while he was going for another audition for some show. I thought that I might as well just give it a shot. There were around 2000-3000 people there for that one tiny role, but I got it. My first dialogue came after a month!” he laughs.

With many Hollywood artists coming out with stories of sexual abuse in return for work, one is bound to wonder if Rithvik ever had to face such a situation. “Yes, I did meet such people. But I am halfPunjabi, half-Sindhi, so it’s difficult for anybody to take me for a ride. My family is hardcore, and they have been out there in the rut. My dad is the best judge of people, and having learned this from him, I always know people’s intentions in advance. Though no one so far has offered anything like that to me, I would have known how to handle it,” Rithvik says.

PHOTO: SHIVANGI KULAKARNI Actor Rithvik Dhanjani is hosting a TV show