Actor by Chance

“The play was Koyle ki Khaan. Once I had surprised myself by playing to an audience the part thrust upon me,it was the turn of my parents to be surprised when I showed my leanings,” said character actor Pramod Moutho,in Lucknow on Saturday to promote Pitaa,the serial on Sony TV in which he plays the eponymous role.

“Bitten by the acting bug,I forced my way out of family pressure and landed up to work with the repertory of the National School of Drama in Delhi. After giving 15 years to stage,I got my TV break in Dr Chandraprakash’s Chanakya,” continued the actor,detailing his journey as an actor,which includes his role of the ‘actual’ villain in the Subhash Ghai film Khalnayak.

“I have done 200 films,including Punjabi ones,but I have given up now for the sheer lack of quality of the projects,” he said,with reference to his comeback to television.

“Here was a script and character I loved the moment I heard it. I play the father of a girl who reverses roles and turns parent to her father in his time of need. Daughters are such a dear thing to have and the love they gave to parents and brothers,besides to their husbands and sons,is matchless,” said Moutho,whose daughter Gauri passed the Class X exams “with flying colours”.

Archana Tayde,who plays the protagonist in the serial and who came along with Moutho,is a Mass Communications passout from Vivekanand College,Mumbai and was earlier seen in Swarg,on Colors.

“The phase of glamorising negative traits is over after being rejected by the audience.

Most of the new series are upholding human virtue. I strongly feel,people don’ just emulate the mannerisms and style of dressing of the TV characters,but also follow in their footsteps in being good,” said Tayde,admitting she pursued a course in Journalism only to achieve her goal of becoming a TV star.