The rise to stardom of actor Rajeev Khandelwal is nothing short of cinematic. In a deeply personal interview with Screen, the actor walked down memory lane, revisiting the moment he unknowingly stepped into television history with his portrayal of Sujal in the renowned Star Plus television soap opera Kahiin To Hoga — a role that made him a household name across the country.
Rajeev Khandelwal recalls overnight stardom and why he quit Kahiin To Hoga; says, “I couldn’t even enter my house”
“I had done a few ads, and slowly I started doing a little better. During one of those trips, I read an ad that said, Balaji Telefilms has an audition for a show in a college… I thought it was fake,” Rajeev shared. But that so-called fake audition became his gateway to Mumbai and television fame. Initially cast in the television series Kya Hadsa Kya Haqeeqat, Rajeev had no idea he’d soon be chosen for a role “very close” to Ekta Kapoor’s heart. “One day, Ekta called me and offered me the role,” he said. Even then, he doubted himself. “I considered myself not good-looking, and I was known to be a good-looking man.”
The show’s late-night slot made him believe it wouldn’t succeed. “I told myself that this would be a long struggle… But in 15 episodes, I started seeing this excitement around me.” The frenzy that followed took him by surprise. “Girls around me blushing, looking at me, and smiling… I kept telling myself it was for the character.”
Then came the moment it all hit him. “One of the leading publications called me asking for an interview, which came on the front page. After 25 episodes, I started cutting ribbons… I just couldn’t handle it. Once I went to my house and I could not even enter… Girls would drop kites with messages written for Sujal on them.”
However, the pressure of living up to fan expectations led to a breaking point. “When I quit the show, it was only because I couldn’t handle it… I thought I was not giving them back in terms of quality.” He rejected multiple film and TV offers that mirrored Sujal’s brooding persona. “I didn’t want to be known as this romantic guy.”
His bold move came at a cost. “I quit the show at its peak… so many thought I was egoistic.” Even when money was offered, Rajeev told Shobha Kapoor, “Reduce it, but give me quality.”
For Rajeev, it wasn’t about fame or fortune. “I was very truthful to myself,” he said — a sentiment that continues to define his career, long after Sujal changed his life.
Also Read: Rajeev Khandelwal recalls casting couch encounter: ‘‘Sorry sir, ye toh nahin milega aapko’’
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