'I am and always will be proud of all my shows'- Manish Raisinghania

Manish Raisinghania has been the impersonating, arrogant and stubborn Rahul in Yash Patnaik and Swapna Waghmare Joshi's Rang Badalti Odhani on Star One.
ng Badalti Odhani fans is that Rahul doesn't make an 'ashleel' MMS of his friends' innocent wives anymore. Now let's just hope and pray Rahul remains the non-ashleel sorts.

How much do you relate to your character in Rang Badalti Odhani?
Well not even a bit! Rahul is too intense to be anywhere close to me in my real life. Rahul is a man of 'few words' and I am a man of 'words'; the word 'few' doesn't exist in my dictionary. You can pretty much see it in my interview (Smiles)...

Don't you think you never made it as big as you could have as a TV star?
'Karam karo aur phal mujh pe chod do' that's what Lord Krishna said in Gita and I took it too seriously. When Risshma was entering this 'Glamour Industry', I gave her this stupid funda that, enter this place as an 'Industry' to work hard with sincerity, and 'Glamour' is a bonus which is dependent on a lot of factors which are not in your hands. I told her that in this industry you will have times where fans will snatch autograph book from other stars and come running to you and there will be times when fans will snatch the autograph books from your hands and run to the other stars. If you can stay grounded in both situations, you're fit to be here! I know it's too much of gyan and I am sounding like this gyaani baba but this has helped me all through my career to keep me balanced.

How is it working with Yash Patnaik and Swapna Joshi?
Torture!! (Winks), for them and pleasure for me. Swapna maam has mothered me and my pranks and mischief for four projects now. She doesn't come in my director's list because she is family to me. And Yash, hmm, you meet him and he gives you the vibes of a buddy more than that of a producer. He is equally big a prankster, if not less, and sporty enough to participate in all kinds of fun on the sets. These two make such fantastic team of producers that their sophistication and class reflect in my entire unit of Rang Badalti Odhani. Phew! Enough of praising them 'itna hi bolne ka paisa aur instruction mila tha dono se' (Winks).

You are known to be quite a prankster? Comment
Yup! Even I have heard the same. More than me, I think you could get a better response from  people on the receiving end of my pranks. I am very restless as a person and like the energy around me to be equally high. Pranks are fun and such mastibhari nok jok always helps to maintain positivity on the sets than the otherwise lame gossip and bitching.

Which has been the most struggling part of your life?
Life changed for me after Grasim Mr. India. But winning titles doesn't ensure work; it only gets you recognition and a misconception that Mumbai city has laid a red carpet for you towards your super stardom. But the fact is, it is only after the title that your real struggle begins. And for me also that was the real struggling phase as I was doing my engineering during that time. I remember my HOD called my mom for me falling short in attendance. And my mom's reply to HOD was "I am proud of my son! As you only just told me sir that Manish's submissions are on time and fantastic, also he scores well. He is brilliant with sports but just his attendance is not up to the mark. I am aware of it, as he does all that along with his rigorous struggle in Mumbai." Not that it stopped my HOD from detaining my term but incidents like this did make my struggle worth the struggle.

Your first show with Star One Hum Dono Hai Alag Alag couldn't really garner the TRP's and popularity, do you think it was a wrong choice?
No, not at all because film making and TV is not a one man show and it's truly a team work. We as a team somehow failed to achieve big numbers and hence I can't point a finger at my team and say 'I was wrong to chose them' or 'they were a wrong choice'. Success or failure, be it any, it was ours and I am still proud of the wonderful team we had! I am and always will be proud of all my shows.

The craziest rumor you have heard about yourself?
Hmm, now that's a tricky question. Kehte hain rumors ko jitni hawa do, utna badhte hain, I ignored it then and I still do the same. There is a very beautiful thought of Mr. Dhiru Bhai Ambani doing rounds on blackberry these days, 'You will never reach your destination if you stop & throw stones at every dog that barks at you. Better keep biscuits and move ahead'. God has been kind to me that I have managed to live that through my life.

Tell us something about your nature…
You may call my nature absolutely natural as I like keeping things simple and basic and prefer to do even the most extraordinary things in the most ordinary way. I love simplicity in a person. I love sports, I love adventure, I love nature, and I love to learn new things. Hmm... Moral of the story I love to love!!!

One thing you want to change about yourself?
Lots... But one thing that I really need to inculcate in myself is 'Keeping in Touch'. I instantly connect with people and make friends, but I am too lazy to keep in touch on phone or net. So, I cannot very proudly say that I am a face to face person than a Facebook person. I know it's a bad habit and I get a lot of complaints about this behavior. But trust me 'Work is in Progress' and I am improving

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Wrong question to be asked to a super-duper greedy person like me. I want everything, I work for everything and still I will say 'Main Zyaada Nahin Maangta'.

Would you prefer a holiday at beach or up in the mountain?
You won't believe, since a month I am itching to go to Goa as it's been a year. The last time when I went to beaches was in Phuket and Phi Phi islands. I love both but prefer beaches a little more as I love water sports which is only possible there.

Who is your favorite actor-actress and why?
My favourite actor is Aamir khan for his shear sensibility towards quality cinema, Shah Rukh for his wit and intelligence to sell that cinema, Salman khan for his star power and Hrithik Roshan for his humble and honest approach towards his work which reflects in his marvelous performances. And one man who embodies all these qualities Mr. Amitabh Bachchan! Didn't I tell you I am greedy and zyaada nahin maangta. Hmm actress, Kajol who is an absolute natural and Madhuri Dixit whose charm nobody can ever deny!

Your best time pass?
Gadgets, gizmos, sports (both indoor and outdoor) or my virtual gaming arena. Now on that basis you may call me a Geek or a Player. Hmm… Call me a Geek, that's safe, as 'Player' carries another meaning to it, so let's Play safe (Winks)

Tell us something about your best friend and about your friendship?
Risshma! She is my best friend and my buddy, my partner in every crime. 'Adventurous' is the middle name of the two of us and the beauty of our friendship is transparency. We read each other like an open book and we express ourselves to each other the way we would speak to ourselves.

Your best feature?
I would say I am a good listener and I can listen to people without judging. I think that's what probably makes me very approachable. It has happened to me that even strangers have come and confined in me and become buddies in no time.  Oh ya, I can keep secrets!

Party animal or home body?
I am a complete home body and my room is my den. It's a Gadget lovers' paradise, it's a heaven for a gamer as it has everything from a PSP to a Play Station to an Xbox and the latest addition is the Kinect, which is a new revolution in gaming which doesn't need a controller as your body itself is the controller. So, there is in no way I feel like leaving my room nor do my cousins or friends who come over feel like..

Your good luck charm?
I think it's my attitude! I carry it wherever I go and it takes care of both my luck and charm!

For you acting is?
A brand new learning experience every day and  a brand new perspective to see life and characters. Last and the most important thing... It's my duty which is actually a delight.

Which is your favorite dish?
Foodie like me can answer a question about food in just three words 'Incoming Free Hai' I love all kinds of food and love to experiment with different cuisines. But at the end of the day what I need and cherish the most is 'Meri Maa Ke Haath Ka Khaana'. I love my home food!!!

Which is your favorite place in India and abroad?
In India, Goa is my favourite as a holiday spot and Pune because I feel like home! My favourite place abroad is Europe as it is beautiful. But the places that I want to visit since long are Australia and New Zealand.

Your dream role?
Cliched as hell, but Raj of DDLJ...

Who is your idol?
My Dad, he is my hero.  I am still struggling to reach that bench mark in my life to be like him and as efficient as him. He is truly what we call Mr. Dependable who taught me 'The Harder I work, Luckier I get'.

What were the landmarks of your career?
Grasim Mr. India was the first big landmark. If it wasn't for the titles I won there, I would have never been known. The next is modeling in Europe because that was my schooling as a professional model. Then I believe it was the plump offer by Ekta Kapoor's world of K- serials as that was my schooling into acting. She was really kind to put me in a good amount of her shows which gave me a great opportunity to learn.

Which is your favourite serial that you have been a part of?
Teen Bahuraaniyaan on Zee TV is one show that is very close to my heart because I had the most wonderful team who pampered me the most. Right from Hemal Thakkar, my producer, to the spot head, Mamu, made every day in my show worthwhile. I still walk into Laagi Tujhse Lagan set which is my TB team as if it's my own and get at least fifty warm hugs from my crew.

If not an actor what would you have been?
A scientist and a martial art expert. After my diploma in Mechanical engineering and before entering my degree college, I got selected through campus to work for an American company at a superb pay pack at the age of 18. I think I would have done pretty well there as well, but in research and development section. As much as I loved technology as an engineering student, martial arts was my passion for two reasons:

First for the reason that it is the most demanding sport. Because if u loose in this, you just don't lose a game but you probably lose your teeth or even something else which could be more painful. In spite of this, the game probably has least recognition. I was a national champion and I got qualified for international championships four times. But not one time I could go for it because there was no sponsor for a considerably small amount which any average rich man would spend on their birthday party.

The second reason is I love team games and all other sports, but this is one sport which leaves least scope for cheating. If, God forbid, cheating happens against me then God only saves the one he is cheating for. Because, if they don't give me points I win in an even better way, it is a Knockout. So, if I was not an actor I would have been doing two extreme things Research and development with engineering and Destroying with martial arts (just kidding, it just sounded like nice so mentioned it because martial arts is basically the power to protect and not to destroy)

Are you satisfied today as an actor? If not, what are the variations as an actor that you would want to project now?
I am the most unsatisfied soul, but only when it comes to me and expectations are sky high even when it comes to acting. As an actor I would want to portray more layered characters other than just the conventional black, white or grey because as a human, we have many more colors than just being black, white and grey. I would love to face a challenge of portraying a deeper character.

What are your future plans?
I take every day as it comes and love to live in the moment. I don't plan future because it's not in my hands, I just work on it.