I want someone like Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz.... Gaurav Khanna

Gaurav Khanna aka Abeer of Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam has a huge female fan following but he is still single because when he is not shooting he is either watching “lot of TV or learning a new skill.” TellyChakkar spoke to the handsome hunk about all that you ever wanted to know about him. Is Gaurav anywhere like Abeer? Abeer is like any other guy born in North India. If I had to be in the North I would have been a lot like Abeer. For now, I can say I am 55 to 60 per cent like him. You are one of the hottest hunks in the television industry… aren't you dating? No. I am not dating anyone as there is hardly any time when I am free. I do not have a social life as I am shooting 28 days a month. I have turned a workaholic in the past four to five years and I do not know what to do when I am not working. So, usually I keep doing something or the other. Since I am so busy I don't think it would be fair to be in a relationship if I do not have enough time for my partner. But for now work comes first though I am not consciously trying to not fall in love. It hasn’t just happened as yet. Didn’t you have a girlfriend in school or college? No. I never had one as I was all the time busy even then. In school I was busy participating in sports, elocution, debates and while I was in college I was also helping dad in his business. After work I would go to the gym. Do you even now keep yourself busy? Yes. I usually try and learn new things in my free time. But, earlier as I was doing two shows on TV I was all the time occupied. But now though I just do one show it keeps me busy. Whenever I have little time I sit and design my house. I have designed my house completely and there is still a lot that I want to do so I keep working on it. I have always been a creative person. We have heard you also paint in your free time… Yes, I paint beautiful women all the time and that is an irony of my life! But, I like painting beautiful Rajasthani women with beautiful backdrops in their colourful attire. Tell us something about your journey in the glamour industry? I had completed my MBA and just landed in Mumbai as a marketing manager in an IT firm. I used to go to this gym and I met someone who helped me do an ad there and I did it for pocket money. Later I got Siddhant for which I had to shoot for 8-9 days. I did it but this was the beginning of my 24 hour working schedule as I had not given up on my IT job. I used to work in the office during the day and shoot at night. But, even before I did this serial I had done an eight second role in a teleseries, One Night Stand. I waited to shoot for that role from 2 in the noon till 2.30 in the morning and the shot got over in just 10 seconds. But, I was pretty thrilled with the entire on-screen experience so I did not mind waiting that long. Later I got an offer from Bhabhi and they told me that I would have to sign a contract as I had a big role in it. So, I had to give up my job. At that point of time I went through severe mental strain as I had not even informed anyone back home that I was giving up on such a good job. But, to my horror my role in it came to an end in just six days as it was a cameo and I wasn't even informed. For three days I was at home sitting idle but then I got call from the same producers as they wanted me to act in Kumkum. Do you still feel you could have done better as a Marketing Manager? If I had to still be there I would have been a mid level corporate person traveling somewhere. I do think about it at times and then I do ads for the same company and I feel I am in front of the camera if not behind it so it feels good. Have you made any friends in the industry? I have made a very few friends but close ones. I do not socialize much. The only place I like coming to after my shoots is my home. The best part is I never get bored of myself so I do not feel the need to have friends around me all the time. Name three things that you like doing the most? Sleep, eat and workout. I have been doing this since the very beginning and I still love doing it. Has anyone ever played a prank on you? Yes, initially when I was new on the sets of Kumkum. Hussain (Kuwajerwala), his wife Tina and Vivan (Bhatena) had played this prank on me. I use to get a call from a stalker who belonged to the place I come from and she knew everything about me and this led to a situation that one day I went to meet her. It was only then I realized it was a prank played by these guys. I used to tell Hussain about everything and he would go back home and tell Tina who would then call me up. And, I never knew it was them and the worst part was I would go to their place and tell them everything about this stalker! This went on for one and a half years. Have you played pranks on others? I think you should ask my co-stars about it they will tell you better stories! How important are awards for you? Frankly speaking I do not see any strength on Indian television with no offence to the actors who have received the awards. They received it because they deserved it. I too was nominated for Kumkum but these awards are on the basis of the TRPs of a show. So if a show is doing well and its TRPs are high the actors on that show are nominated for awards. I prefer the Bollywood awards more because actors are awarded for their performance and not for the film. Hence, I usually do not go to the award functions unless I am hosting or performing. Are you looking forward to act in Bollywood? I was never a trained actor nor did I plan to be here but it is destiny I am here. I haven't met a director or a producer till date for a role in a film. But if I am offered something I will do it. But I believe it is better to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond than being a smaller fish in an ocean. It’s not that television is not doing well you see Bollywood stars coming on TV. It is growing every day. What kind of a girl do you want in your life? I would like someone like Scarlet Johansson, Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz, Madhuri Dixit and Katrina Kaif. I think like any other normal guy. I want someone who understands me and my humour, good looking and a good cook as I love eating. But this does not mean she will be in the kitchen all the time. Education is a must as it changes your outlook towards the way you look at things and situations.