‘Couldn’t say no to Rajanji’

Ruslaan Mumtaz will be seen in popular Star Plus’ show, Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke. The team recently resumed shooting after a three-month-long break because of the lockdown. In a quick chat with us, the actor talks about his character, working with his good friend Shaheer Sheikh, fatherhood and more…

Tell us about your role in Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke.

My character is called Varun Soni, who will get married to Abir’s sister. That is how I will join the family, and then there will be some twists and turns.

Your good friend Shaheer Sheikh is the lead of the show. How does it feel to be working with him?

I have known Shaheer for such a long time, and I never thought that someday we will be working together. It’s so much fun.

Are you picky when it comes to choosing a script?

I have been consciously avoiding sexual content because that is something that I am not comfortable with. The reason being, even if the story needs the scene, eventually it’s only that particular scene being forwarded on WhatsApp and all over internet, without any connection to the show.

You and your wife welcomed a baby boy in March. How’s fatherhood treating you?

I have been giving him baths and massages every day and now that I have to shoot, I miss those moments. Whenever I get an off, I do that. It’s a great feeling.

Considering the current Covid scenario and a baby at home, were you apprehensive about getting back to work?

I had decided that I would not take up any work until this coronavirus goes away. And I had not been auditioning or giving a look test for any show. But Rajan ji’s show came to me from an older look test that I had done for him. And the opportunity was too good to refuse, getting a Rajan Shahi show on Star Plus, so I just couldn’t say no to it.