By Arpana, IANS
New Delhi : Once a charted accountant and now a television actor, Delhi boy Prashant Chawla is one happy guy with his role in Zee TV's "Teen Bahuraaniyan" gaining huge popularity.
Prashant, who won the best smile award at Grasim Mr. India, 2004, plays the eldest son of a Gujarati family in the soap. He says he doesn't mind being part of the female-centric story that revolves around three girls.
"The real audiences are housewives. And they enjoy watching empowerment of women. It makes them happy because they can relate to it. That's why most of the serials are centred on women. It's a fact and we can't run away from this fact," Prashant told IANS on phone from Mumbai.
But the actor said he still fails to relate to the character he plays as he comes from a different family background. He hails from a family of bankers and chartered accountants, but chose to pursue a career as an actor instead.
"I can't relate to such things. I have never seen it. I don't come from this kind of a family background where 20 people have dinner together and cannot watch TV while dining. But as an actor I have to be convincing in the role I play. So what I do is that I try to understand the basic traits of my character and adapt it to the best of my ability. And I like my character," said Prashant.
The role played by him, which has shades of both comedy and romance, has become very popular among female fans. But he is not happy with the marriage of the character.
"After the marriage in the serial my character has become too dependent on my wife Manjeet, and as a result he does not come through as an independent character. There are more emotional moments than romantic and that is why the audiences are missing that chemistry between my co-star and me. Discussions are on with the producer to put my character back on the track," Prashant said.
The trial period of "Teen Bahuraaniyan" is over and Prashant is looking for more assignments.
"'Teen Bahuraaniyan' is on for a few months and the shooting schedules are comfortable. I can manage one more serial or a film role. I'm going through the script but haven't decided on anything yet," said Prashant, who also worked in "Tumhari Disha" and "Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka".
Though he nurtures big screen aspirations, Prashant doesn't believe that television is a stepping-stone to films.
"TV is not a stepping stone. Serials are just a practical way of grooming yourself. Here you are not trapped in an image. For example after 'Company', people refused to accept Vivek Oberoi in any other role. But you don't face any such problems in the television industry.
"But it doesn't open doors for you in films because lots of production houses don't want to work with TV actors. It's a very practical industry. If you are saleable, if people want to watch you for two-and-a-half hours or you have the potential to draw crowds to theatre, producers will cast you," said Prashant.
Before moving to Mumbai the actor was into modelling and also underwent a month's training under the supervision of Rita Ganguli, a professor at the National School of Drama. He has also learned the art of mime and movement from a French woman.
"Your training helps you when you face the camera," said Prashant, who did his first ad film with Nikhil Advani of "Kal Ho Naa Ho" fame.
"It was an ad for an ice cream with Saif Ali Khan."
So why didn't Advani cast you in his film?
"He called me for a role in 'Salaam-e-Ishq'. After a couple of sittings he felt that I am too young for the role. I think if a director of his stature calls you for a role, that's an achievement in itself."