What excites you about your new show? My character is very powerful and has dramatic shades. He is a benevolent landlord. It is almost as multi-layered a personality as me. So as an actor,I get to perform a lot. As the show highlights the problems of living in a regressive village in India,it raises concerns about significant social issues too. In 1995,you acted in Doordarshans Bible Ki Kahaniya. What differences do you find in the world of television since then? Since then,whether television has changed for good or worse is what I would not like to judge as an actor. Besides,I was in just one episode of Bible Ki Kahaniya,where I played the role of Abraham. Hence my television experience of that era is negligible. But today I see a lot of potential in television. Your roles in American and European television have been very popular. How was that experience? The experience has been extremely grand and satisfying. Sandokan,the pirate,is still one of the most popular characters I played. Besides,I have acted in many Italian TV shows and Hollywood movies. For now I look forward to my Indian television debut. It adds to my multinational experience. Do you feel that Indian television is now at par with the west? Indian television has a long way to go. Even decades ago,when I was acting for television in the West,their production budgets were over million dollars. That is not yet possible in India. But production quality has certainly improved. The Indian shows is as good as the western ones when it comes to picturisation. What are your other creative pursuits? I am in the midst of many projects,acting in two Hindi films and one Punjabi film. I will be reciting Sufi saint Rumis poetry at the NCPA,Mumbai. I am also preparing to launch a childrens book written by my mother. Whether it is religion,politics or art,you seem to have varied interests. My parents contributed to the Indian freedom struggle and were very politically very active. They were deeply religious,idealistic and yet very open. I was brought up under the influences of Sikhism and Buddhism,but as I grew I allowed myself to discover more. I am very spiritual and little things give me joy. You have been a staunch supporter of democracy in Burma. Now that the Burmese Government is releasing Aung San Suu Kyi,do you see winds of change? This is something that the government had to do. There was a lot of pressure. But whether this will restore a democratic government is still a haunting question. What I do appreciate is that Aung San Suu Kyi is unharmed physically. Now she can at least continue with her campaign and hopefully contest elections in future.
