Raqesh is having a tough time mouthing Urdu dialogues: Vaquar Shaikh

Vaquar Shaikh, best known as Asad’s father Rashid Ahmed Khan, is on an all time high of his career after a very long time courtesy Zee TV’s Qubool Hai (4 Lions Films). “Since the last ten days I have been on a wheelchair but my immobility hasn’t made the story any less interesting; it’s revolving around me,” says Vaquar with a sense of pride. Elaborating about the graph of his character, he further goes on to add, “Though I play a father in this show, I have enacted some of the most romantic scenes in it. I’ve got to play something different after a long time. Usually what happens on TV is that everyone promises you an interesting role but after a few months it’s nothing more than kitchen politics. I have been a part of many such shows.” We don’t see Rashid romancing anymore? “You can’t be doing the same things day in and day out. I’ve romanced for four months and have got a lot of appreciation for the same. But on TV, one cannot run the same genre; there has to be suspense, thrill and politics. The change is what keeps it going,” he believes. Which means you’re happy with your character? “Yes, I feel like going on the sets everyday without seeming to do any kind of favour on my producer. For, when you’re doing what you don’t like, it feels like you’re doing a favour for others,” Vaquar claims. Have you faced such a situation? “Yes, a lot of times. The issue is that when you’re committed to a show, you can’t leave it mid way. A lot of bigger things happen between an actor and his producer on TV. There have been actors who have been thrown out of the show by the same producers and then have been roped in for their next show. So, you see, a lot happens but I like being committed,” the actor observes. What do you have to say about the exit of Karan Singh Grover? “Trust me, I wasn’t around when all this happened; I learnt about it through an actor friend later. But if it’s his decision, I am happy for him,” Vaquar answers. When asked of what he thinks of Raqesh Vashisht as Asad he avers, “He is putting in a lot of effort and I just hope that the audiences accept him. Though he has a tough time speaking Urdu, he works hard on it. Actually most of the men in the show have had a hard time with Urdu be it Karan (Singh Grover) or Rishabh (Sinha) and now Raqesh (Vashisht). But Shabnam (Sayed), Shalini (Kapoor Sagar) and Alkaji (Kaushal) have a command on the language given their background of work and language. But I feel that this shouldn’t be a hurdle for Raqesh. TV is a medium that makes you feel like anybody. The people on screen can do all that you can’t do in real life, hence they are bound to be heroes,” Rashid maintains. “TV actors who feel that they are heroes are actually living in a world of fantasy. It’s the character that the audience falls in love with. This is one of the major reasons why the artistes who have given a hit in their earlier show turn out to be a disaster in their next,” he ends. Now this is what is called as speaking out one’s mind. Keep up the good work Vaquar!!!