It is great fun to play an evil character - Chetan Hansraj

Chetan Hansraj’s name is synonymous with television historicals and mythological. He had played the teenaged Balram in B.R.Chopra’s Mahabharat, Raja Bheendev in Prithviraj Chauhan and Mughal warlord Inayat Khan in Veer Shivaji, will be seen as Bheem in the upcoming Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki and is playing Emperor Akbar’s General Adham Khan in Zee TV’s Jodha Akbar (Balaji Telefilms) currently. Though Adam Khan was a good general and a great warrior, he was also guilty of barbaric cruelty. Chetan insists, “He was supposed to be cruel as he after all wanted to be the king. It is great fun to play an evil character. He however felt justified in what he was doing.” Adam Khan was thrown down the tower by Emperor Akbar twice till he met his death. What is his take on the ghastly way he was killed? “I think that is absolutely fabulous. The fact that he didn’t die in one go simply shows the resilience of the man.” Adam Khan’s mother Maham Anga died of heart ache soon after her son had died. Does he feel sympathy for her? “If she was the brain, her son was the brawn. They were complementary and simply couldn’t function without one another.” As the actor’s forte is historical and mythological, he did not have to prepare much for this role especially as far as horse riding and sword fighting are concerned. Nevertheless this role did pose as a challenge to him. The reason he gives is, “Adam Khan was the next level psychotic.” It didn’t come as a surprise to us, when we got to know that Chetan loved history classes during his school days. The Indus Valley and Mesopotamian Civilization would interest him the most as a school boy. He feels that history classes can be made all the more interesting in school if the audio visual method of education is introduced. Currently, he loves watching the Discovery Channel, Fox History and the National Geographic Channel. He praises the immense contribution of Mughal Empire to India’s cultural heritage. “All invaders left their everlasting mark in India. The Mughal Empire contributed immensely to India’s literature, music and monuments. It is because of them that we now have the Taj Mahal.” What does he think of Emperor Akbar? He candidly replies, “He had thirty to forty wives and was cruel. Nevertheless, he sobered down later.” What does he think of the relationship between Jodha bai and Akbar? He replied in a prosaic manner, “Rather than it being a romantic story, their marriage was an alliance.” For more updates on the show keep watching this space.