‘I won’t do something which has no audience’
Rajeev Khandelwal will now be debuting on the digital platform with a web series. Talking about his experience of dabbling into a new format, he says, “I didn’t find any difference. Probably I would know that once I get the audiences’ reaction. People would ask me the difference between movies and TV. I’ve never been able to explain the difference because as an actor I am just performing. I don’t perform for the medium. It’s not that I am acting less for any medium. I enjoyed working on the script. My reasons to take up the show were Ekta (Kapoor), and because I knew the project was in the right hands, and its beautiful writing.”
So will his decision of continuing to work in the digital medium depend on audiences’ reaction? “My decisions have never been dependant on the feedback. If that was the case I wouldn’t have done shows or movies which were different. I’d have gone for the commercial stuff. It’s not about getting more audience. It’s about pleasing the audience that you get. It’s about getting a pat on your back, even from the small number of people, who are watching. Of course, there are things that affect our choices. Obviously, I won’t do something which has no audience. But it’s not that if I get a lukewarm response from the web world, I will not take up more shows,” says the Aamir (2008) actor.
When asked if increasing popularity of digital shows is a threat to the movies, he says, “It just may be. You have the convenience of watching something that is of good quality, and you get it for a cheaper price then it can definitely pose a threat to movies. But I’m sure the quality of films will also get better.”
Talking about his equation with Ekta, he adds, “I began my career with one of her shows. She is a remarkable producer. I’ve always marvelled her foresight and vision. She has always been polite and courteous even when we weren’t working together. So it never felt that I didn’t work with her team.”
My decisions have never been dependant on the feedback. RAJEEV KHANDELWAL, ACTOR