Return of the inheritor

Whilst playing Angad in Balaji’s Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai, Iqbal Khan’s popularity cut across female fans of all generations—from 16 to 60. But the quiet actor of Kashmiri origins took a long pause after his marriage to longtime love Sneha Chhabra, vowing to work only within ‘decent hours’ after his return.

While he was gradually making an impact as air-force officer Abhimanyu Adhikari in Choona Hai Aasman, it didn’t take tellyland’s King Khan long to relinquish the show. “I believe you should deliver what you promise—otherwise the basis on which you signed the show is proved wrong,” is all that he says when quizzed about his quitting.

What he prefers to discuss rather is his new show Waris (Zee) produced by Smriti Iraani. “It looks big, is promising and different,” Iqbal states. Ask him whether his character Shankar in the show is based on Abhishek Bachchan’s in Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar and Iqbal disagrees. “The show is loosely based on the novel The Godfather. One can’t copy a three-hour film. That would only cover four episodes,” he reasons.

In times when ‘more the merrier’ is the mantra that tube stars swear by, Iqbal has been consistently choosy about his roles. “If you are playing the main character, you are already working 20 days a month. Where does it leave time for more roles? As regards doing reality shows, I am not saying no but right now I am not interested in them. I am a private person,” he says.

How does he find Smriti as a proudcer? “Her shows are not the regular ones. They are not driven by kitchen politics,” he answers adding, “Even when I was with Balaji, I was not doing a family soap-I did a love story (referring to Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai).” Would he return to the Balaji fold? “I am open to anything which is good and requires normal hours of working,” he declares. It’s been more than a year since Iqbal got married. The only twist in life in his words now is, “I’ve to get back home at a decent hour. Life’s not only about me now. Sneha is a part of it.”

k_farhana@dnaindia.net