Article:‘Prince is not a negative charact

He was not keen on a career in acting. But after doing more than 70 television commercials he got interested in the field. "Modelling to acting is a natural progression," says Kartik Sabharwal. He wanted to do films but the road to Bollywood was far too ardous. ortunately, being a well-known model TV offers came his way. And when he was offered the role of a psychotic character in Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan, he accepted it. Though the show has a gang of four girls, Kartik's character stood out. He didn't look back as soon as he landed a role in Kumkum. And now Kartik is all set to play the first lead role of his career in Raakhi that goes on air tomorrow.

"Bhavishya is a very weird character that has not been seen on television before. It was supposed to be a cameo. But the character clicked so well that for nearly nine months the focus didn't shift from Bhavishya and Saraswati's track. In fact, some of the actors left the show because their roles were not getting enough screen space once Bhavishya and Saraswati became a hit pair," he says. Having been sent to a mental asylum by Saraswati, Kartik has got a break from Betiyaan but he will soon be brought back in the show. "Saraswati's story will not move without Bhavishya because she is carrying his child. Also the character is so popular that it can't be done away with."

In Kumkum too Kartik is playing a negative character but it is the Betiyaan role that is his favourite. "I have played the character very convincingly and people have appreciated me a lot," he gushes. Talking about his role in Raakhi, Kartik says he plays a character that's quite similar to Akshay Kumar's role in Khiladi. "Prince is a laidback kind of person. By default he gets married to a rich girl and since his wife is filthy rich he doesn't want to work in life," he reveals, adding, "Prince is not a negative character by intention. He starts on a positive note but gets manipulated and turns negative. It is an awesome role."

Not that he was an unknown face before he debuted on television a year ago. But his popularity has soared and he says it feels nice to be famous. While he is focused on his career on television he is quite keen on doing films. "Television has taken away the loneliness from my life. It has also brought in some routine and discipline for me. And of course the money is also good. But films are definitely on my agenda. Television is a good learning experience for me to prepare myself for films," says the model-turned-actor who did his first commercial for a cola drink seven years ago and was paid Rs. 7000 for it. It was huge money which I earned in one day. Today I may be getting paid more than what I earned when I first began modelling but my first pay cheque is very special to me."