Mahhi Vij and I can paint the set red together! Mishal Raheja

Mishal Raheja (Datta bhau in Laagi Tujhse Lagan) says he is fortunate to have got such a role at a young age. Laagi… is like family to him yet it does not keep him away from stress and so he works out to counter it. He also believes his co-star Mahhi Vij is a lot like him. TellyChakkar spoke to the actor on this and a lot more. Do you think the Indian television industry is shifting to more male centric shows? I really do not know about it for we still do not see many male characters like mine in Laagi. I can say maybe my role is shifting one’s outlook but so far it has been women-centric shows only. And I wouldn't blame anyone as more women seem to be watching serials than men. For men are usually out of the house till 9-9.30 and women need some masala and that's what they get. I feel fortunate to get such a role at a very young age. How is it working with the cast and crew of Laagi Tujhse Lagan? I love the set and the people are like family. All my three ‘reel’ sisters, Sudarshan, and Sethji are superb. We all share our food; we distribute chocolates on the set. We have people from all age groups hence it feels like a family that has a father, mother, sister and little children. It's comforting here compared to other sets where people just work and walk out. We work as a team. You're also doing Mano Ya Na Mano. Are you enjoying anchoring? I am anchoring for the first time and am excited about it. I also get to wear stylish clothes, classic shoes which I don't get to wear in Laagi… I don't even get to talk much on Laagi till Datta is in a really bad mood. But, in Mano…since I am the anchor I have to talk a lot. I have these entire one page monologues. What is it you'd like to change about Datta? I want to change his clothes completely. I don't even mind if I have to act without clothes but would want them changed. After a hectic schedule at work how do you de-stress yourself? Working out helps me feel stress free. So, I do not miss my workouts and in case I have missed it I go out on a 20 minute run even if it’s 11 in the night. Another thing I do is I go back home and play with my puppy. I bought him from Kolkata on my birthday. His name is Amigo and playing with him for an hour makes me feel nice. How is your off-screen relationship with Mahhi Vij? We are friends and have known each other for years now. She is very similar to me, earnest and honest. We get along like a house on fire. If we start taking some body’s case together that person’s then has a real bad day! We can paint the set red together. Do you have a fetish for anything? Yes, for clothes. I do not believe in buying expensive glares, shoes or watches for I feel instead of wasting money on such things we can use them for a better purpose. So, every eight months I go to Dubai or Hong Kong and buy clothes for myself. Clothes also work as a stress buster for me. Unlike Datta, I love colours, orange, blue, green… What kind of a girl are you looking forward to? There is no check list. If I meet a girl and we get along well then we stay back but if we do not get along we walk our separate ways. What would you want your ideal day to be like? Wake up early, go to the gym, have a big breakfast then play with my dog, give him a massage. As my parents stay in town I would visit them, have lunch with them. I am fond of movies so I will catch up on a movie with my friends in the afternoon will be for sure. Will have dinner with my parents again and play my guitar. Then probably I will go to sleep early. What has been the most embarrassing moment of your life? Once while I was in school I had participated in a play. I was an activist in it and there was this scene in which I had to go to the police station and fight against the injustice done and the police was to drag me in the jail. But, I got into the character completely and walked into the prison without the police dragging me in. The entire class started laughing at me and I was embarrassed. Are there any unfulfilled dreams? Yes many I would want to do Bollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood, in fact all the woods that are there. I would want to test every field of entertainment be it acting, hosting, dancing, everything.