When the two did not tango

Manpriya Singh

Actor Ayub Khan might have missed the mainstream cut in Bollywood but his name and face carry instant recall value. Quite a feat, given the forgetful industry. A lot many highs figure prominently in the career graph, right from the popular film Mrityudand to small screen hit Uttaran to a cameo in Dil Chahta Hai, where his role was never adorable, yet so memorable.

It’s a nagging question, ‘Given his good looks, things should have worked, so what went wrong? “Maybe it’s the choice of films, may be the films were not inspiring enough. It takes two to tango, doesn’t it?” he is graceful and calm even while answering not so pleasant questions.

Anyway a successful innings on television has hardly left him with any time to wonder much about the journey. “Television is a long-term commitment and here things move at a frantic pace. In fact, when I shuttle to films, I tear my hair out because there things take ages,” he shares, while in Chandigarh to promote his latest offering on television Shakti—Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki.

Accompanied by child actor Mahira Khurrana and Tasheen Shah and co-actor Reena Kapoor, he admits to having been lured more by the concept than the role. “It deals with a social stigma that’s barely spoken about.” He plays Maninder, a Punjabi character for the first time.

Television—women’s world

“It’s very true that it’s a women dominated industry and it’s very clichéd to say but that has also something to do with the fact that television is watched mostly by women.”

The fact that there are very many women protagonists doesn’t really perturb him. “The writer cannot write down every little thing. It depends on how you fill those gaps and add to the role.” This is precisely what he did with Uttaran, resulting in what was phenomenal. “I was given a twenty seconds brief and rest was up to me.”

Acting, by chance

It’s rare for kids with a filmi background to admit that they’ve had it easy. However, “Getting into the industry was like butter but what’s hard was to remain in the industry.”

A fact, for which lots many things need to fall in place, apart from sheer talent. “As children, we were not exposed to the industry at all. I wouldn’t accompany my parents to the sets and we went to school by bus.”

He adds, “I actually set out to be a fighter pilot, even joined the NDA, when my mother said you come back and now...In fact, at the thought of acting my reaction would be, it’s not my cup of tea.”

But then what has to happen, just happens. “You see you are just out of college, completely broke and it’s one of those days when you are looking at arranging 50 bucks because that’s the entry fee to a night club and suddenly a producer turns up and offers you Rs 25,000. Let alone act, you are ready to do anything.”

On uncle Dilip Kumar

It won’t be fair to let go of him without a few questions on yesteryear actor Dilip Kumar, who happens to be his paternal uncle. “The last time I met him was when he was unwell...was in hospital itself. Given his advanced age and frail health, it isn’t possible to interact a lot.”

But perhaps, sometime back there must have been criticism, appreciation coming his way from the great actor. He laughs, “Oh, he’s very critical. Never happy with what I do.”

manpriya@tribunemail.com

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