Q. What is the reason behind the change of the host in Jhalak?
A. Well, this is the question you should ask the channel not me. I was the original choice and then I just did not call back so I am assuming that they want me back.
Q. How do you feel hosting the show again as you have hosted Jhalak before?
A. I am very happy because I had a great time hosting the second season and more importantly people liked seeing me host the show. I am happy to be back as it feels I am back home. I will miss Mona because Mona is not going to be there.
Q. You will be co- hosting the show with Shweta Tiwari this time, so how does the chemistry go?
A. I have not really worked with her in the past, so I don’t know how the chemistry will go but I am sure that both of us are seasoned actors and the chemistry will probably take a day or two to mix up. The shoot for the first episode went really well, so I am assuming that we will be able to create the chemistry that people will enjoy.
Q. What do you think about the contestants of this season, who according to you deserves to win the title?
A. This is actually very difficult to say because this year the contestants are far better than the second season or the first season put together; not only are they stars, they are very good dancers too, so its going to be a really tough fight. There is Gauhar who is very good, Karan has got mass appeal, Hard Kaur is an extremely competent dancer, Baichung Bhutia has got a great fan base, Shipa Shukla, along with being an actor is a tremendous dancer. My favorite right now is out, i.e. Ram. But he has got a good chance of coming back in the wild card.
Q. How would you rate yourself as a dancer?
A. (laughs) I am better than all thirteen of them.
Q. Are you prepared for the drama element of this reality show?
A. You see, when I am a part of any reality show, I have always made an effort to be real. I don’t believe in false dramas whether I am a participant or a host. I will do what I am supposed to do and for me the host of a reality show is like a conductor of an Opera.
Q. What is your take on the IPL this year and which team would you be cheering for?
A. IPL, of course, I am dying and waiting for it to start and on the April 18th I will be doing nothing but watch it. But unfortunately I will be missing the first day because I will be hosting Jhalak (laughs), but I am waiting, I am extremely happy that IPL is happening finally and there are a couple of teams I would be supporting. I am supporting the Mumbai Indians because Mumbai is my ‘karam bhoomi’. I am also supporting Kolkatta Knight Riders because my wife loves Shahrukh Khan and I love Saurav Ganguly and adding to it Kolkatta is my home town because I am a Bengali. I am supporting the Delhi Dare Devils too because I think it’s a fantastic team and they performed really well last year and most of all I am supporting Rajasthan Royals because I hosted them last year and they are a starless team. They all young and they have got great talent and depth. So it’s like very difficult to figure out one team, I am going to enjoy the entire tournament.
Q. What is your take on the three judges in Jhalak?
A. Oh they are lovely. Sarojji, I have known for a long time because I have worked with her and she was a judge on Nach Baliye when Mansi and me took part. Juhiji is some one I am really fond of as an actor. I think in her entire career she has held herself with a lot of grace and dignity and that’s a kind of girl you would want to take home to mamma. Vaibhavi is a friend. I know her since a long time. Infact from the first episode I told her that “look I am not going to call you Vaibhaviji and all that”. So they are fantastic; their dancing sense is unquestionable and I am having a great time.
Q. Any Bollywood projects in hand?
A. I have finished one film called Mittal v/s Mittal which is with Aparna sen Gupta. I have just started a film called Apartment with Jagmohan Mundra which has got Neetu Chandra and Tanushree Dutta opposite me and it also has Anupam Kher. Then there is Sanjay Gupta’s Alibaug which has got a lot of my friends and also got Mansi opposite me. –