Films still my first love: Sudanshu

Mumbai - Sudanshu Pandde, former singer with the Band of Boys who is plotting a comeback to the small screen after five years, insists that cinema is still his first love.

The star of TV soap 'Kanyadaan' who is returning with 'Akayla' insists: 'Cinema still remains my primary interest.'

'In fact, I took on my first serial 'Akayla' in five years only because I see it as a weekly feature film,' Sudanshu told IANS.

'Directors Glen and Ankush are sparing no pains to give 'Akayla' a finish unknown to television. And producer B.P. Singh pays well. Really, it feels like a film,' he says.

'It's been smooth sailing for me. Especially since my spiritual guru Gul Sahib entered my life, I have known no discomfort. Sure, some plans didn't work out,' shrugs the actor.

'People say Mallika Sherawat hogged all the limelight in 'The Myth' where I had a larger role. But I firmly believe Mallika is getting the fame that's written in her destiny. Why should I grudge her the attention she got during 'The Myth'?'

The best part of 'The Myth' for Sudanshu was his friendship with director Stanley Tong.

'We are still in touch, for no other reason except that we hit it off. Otherwise I didn't get into 'The Myth' hoping to become an international star. I am content with what I have.'

'Akayla' is Sudanshu's first serial since 'Kanyaadan' for Ekta Kapoor. 'I did a guest appearance in 'Life Ho To Aisi'. But that apart, I was busy with my films and with my career as a musician,' he says.

Why did he quit the musical group of Band Of Boys? 'Because I had family responsibilities. Playing in a musical band isn't economically fulfilling in this country.'

But the father of a five-year-old clarifies: 'I haven't quit singing. In fact, I want to sing my own songs in my films. I'll soon be returning to singing in a big way.'

Films on hand include Bhupendra Gupta's 'Unns', a boy-meets-girl love story 'Chooriyan' and a comedy titled 'Manorajan', which is set in the film world where Sudanshu plays a struggler who ends up a gangster.

However, another recently released film 'Jadoo Sa Chal Gaya' was a nightmare for Sudanshu.

'The producers put leading lady Meera Vasudevan's face on a bikini-clad girl and advertised this otherwise clean love triangle as a cheesy film. I was so outraged, more for Meera who comes from a conservative and decent family. I don't want to be part of anything that I cannot watch with my parents.'

'Such are the vagaries of life in this city,' laughs the young actor who has now bagged a lead role in Sanjay Gupta's 'Alibaug'.

'I am dying to see how Sanjay presents me. He's such stylish filmmaker.'

How does the actor fob off temptations? 'It's quite easy to fall prey to temptation. It's simple, I focus on my work,' he reveals his mantra.