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Journalism of Courage
Rohit Roy is running away from the very medium that has made him. Not satisfied with what’s on his plate, the Roy-boy is in search of greener pastures. What else can you expect from a man who is a self-confessed follower of the Guru of Giant Egos, Mahesh Bhatt? Better known to most people as Rishabh Malhotra of Swabhimaan, Roy is now trying to make a name for himself as a comic actor in Zee’s Baat Ban Jaye. But Roy’s not satisfied with his TV successes–he’s always looking to the big screen to fulfill his ambitions.
A strange approach for someone, who, till a couple of years ago, was just another wannabe. In fact, his only brush with celebrity was that he had worked with Kunal Kapoor. The odd ad campaign is all that went his way, till Swabhimaan landed on his lap like manna from heaven. And changed his life."I’d heard from a friend that Plus Channel was coming out with a daily soap. At that time, afternoon soaps were unheard of, as even Shanti was yet to begin telecast. But I went ahead and took a screen test," says Rohit.
Mahesh Bhatt, the director of the series, called him back for a second test. "I was supposed to react to my father’s death. Apparently everyone except Bhattsaab had rejected me as they felt I wouldn’t suit the part of the brash and arrogant Rishabh Malhotra," he remembers. "After we’d shot for about a month I received a letter from Mahesh saying that he had seen the first five episodes and thought I was very good. I still have that letter. It helped me regain my confidence."
Today, Rohit is synonymous with Rishabh. And he seems to be enjoying his new-found status as a TV star, albeit only among small town audiences. "In Mumbai, TV is still not as big as cinema. But I used to receive loads of letters from smaller cities. Once I was shooting for a film song in Mahabaleshwar and there was a busload of school children who just could not get over the fact that I was there," he recalls. Despite the fact that just one role had garnered him disproportionate recognition, Roy is trying to change tacks by appearing in Baat Ban Jaye. This sitcom, a take-off on Three’s Company, has Roy sharing a rip-roaring time with his female room mates, Nikki Aneja and Rakhi Vijan. "I used to enjoy watching Three’s Company, and loved the concept of three people living together without any hangups, affairs and sexual complications. And it’s a pleasure to work with the two girls — Nikki is perhaps the most beautiful actress on the small screen and Rakhi, the funniest," he says.
In true Roy style, he firmly believes that the two serials he’s doing are far superior to the other mediocre TV fare. "I am doing Baat Ban Jaye because it is not the usual Chamtkaar or Aahaa or Tu Tu Main Main. Hum Paanch, is the most popular show on Zee, but I don’t like it. Basically, very few people are doing quality work," he states matter-of-factly.
And so he has set out in search of creative satisfaction’ in the big bad world of Bollywood. But his first film, Lalchee, for Plus Films didn’t even get a theatre release. The other tele-film for Zee, Hamein Jahan Pyar Mile, went unnoticed despite heavy publicity and repeated telecasts on Zee Cinema. "That film was an accident. But I was happy with my role in Lalchee. Unfortunately, Plus didn’t publicise the film. There was not a single publicity poster of the film in the entire country!" he claims. Now his hopes are pinned on Koi Kisi Se Kam Nahin and Aankhon Mein Tum Ho, both scheduled for release later this year. Even if these flop, he won’t seek refuge in TV. "I will keep trying," he vows.
Meanwhile, he is working hard to acquire all the trappings of stardom — an inflated ego, an ability to talk about himself endlessly and a deep and abiding love affair with a man called Rohit.
