Why Sachin Shroff will never age on-scree

The actor thinks it's bizarre to play father to someone his age

GITA HARI

On the verge of completing 500 episodes and still going young! It's surprising to find Sachin Shroff, the male protagonist of Sindoor, retaining his position as a young father. Sachin explains this phenomenon, "I am not comfortable with generation leaps and hair whitening. I cannot imagine playing father to someone my age — it's a bizarre joke! My producer Jay Mehta tells me that such a situation is not in the pipeline in Sindoor, not for at least another 150-200 episodes. So, I don't want to ponder over it for now." The Sagittarian, who entered the television industry when still in his teens says, "Acting is my hobby as it happened by chance. Otherwise I belong to a business family and at 19 years of age, I started my own proprietorship firm dealing in steel structures. Even today, I go to my office in town almost everyday in the morning." He was first noticed in Shagun as the second generation lead, followed by Shobhana Desai's Naam Ghum Jayega and Ken Ghosh's Adaa but his claim to fame came through Sindoor.
When queried about the tussles and fracas (Gurdip Kohli quit the serial due to some differences with the makers) that happen on the sets, Sachin states, "From day one, I have had only positive vibes on the sets of Sindoor. Kinnari and Jay Mehta are very warm and they are like family to us actors. When you work for 28 days a month spending, most of the day on the sets, you become a family. And in such an atmosphere, even if slight misunderstandings or scuffles take place among actors and production house, they are insignificant and to be taken with a pinch of salt."
Has he not tried getting a foothold in the Ekta Kapoor camp? "In fact, they have been calling me," smiles Sachin. "I was called thrice for Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki but at very short notice — like asking me to report for shooting from the next day, which I feel would be unjust to my existing serial. I need time to sort things out and allot dates for two shows," maintains the good-looking actor who declined the offers but affirms, "If they give me time, maybe a fortnight to schedule the dates without disturbing my present serial, I will certainly take up their offers."
One aspect close to his heart, as he puts it is, "I would like to anchor shows as I recently discovered after hosting a half-an-hour segment for Shaabash India. Anchoring gives me a great high. Though I get shivers for every new show I do, I enjoyed being a host and would love if a show comes my way," signs off the businessman-cum-actor who strayed into the profession by chance!