Ekta Kapoor offered me Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai; I declined it: Farhan "Chhanchhan" Khan

After the huge casting process for Optymistix Productions’ Chhanchhan on Sony Entertainment Television (SET), newbie Farhan Khan was the lucky one to bag the role of the male lead Manav Borasagar. However, Farhan is not just another lucky talent in his family to get a break in the industry. Well, if you’re wondering why we are saying this, let us explain. For the last six years the actor has been in theatre apart from being a professional model. His grandfather Ashraf Khan, a film publicist, used to paint film posters. His father is a film producer (of Shadyantra fame) and a theatre artiste also. His brother Tabrez Khan is a television director (of Bhagyavidhaata fame) while his eldest brother and mother are TV writers. Yes, Farhan always belonged to the entertainment industry. Moreover, the artiste recently completed shooting for two Hindi films. The most interesting part of Farhan’s ‘serial bagging’ story is that he never wanted to be a part of television shows, as he tells us, “I never wanted to take up serials. This is for the first time that I am doing a TV show.” So why did you take up this project? “I used to always feel that female artistes have more scope in the television industry but in this show since I am paired opposite Sanaya (Irani) and would get to mouth 50 per cent of the dialogues and won’t have to stand in the background, I gave my nod,” Farhan adds. The actor further goes on to reveal that this is not the first TV show for which he has been selected. He was offered shows before but he declined those offers. “In the past I have been offered more than 15 to 20 serials. I know this will sound very unprofessional on my part but I have said ‘no’ to most of these shows after saying a ‘yes’, stated the artiste.” Which shows were those? “I wouldn’t want to name all of them but I had declined Ekta Kapoor’s Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai,” he quips. If you wanted to stay away from TV why did you even go for the auditions? “I usually go for auditions because primarily I am a theatre artist and it helps me polish myself as an actor. But, then I usually get selected, so I have to tell them a no. Hence, there have been times when these people have asked me not to waste their time and mine either.” Well we are sure you’re wondering how Farhan said a ‘yes’ to Chhanchhan and so did we. Therefore, we questioned him about the same and he went on to say, “The casting director for this show is a very old friend and he was standing outside his office when I just happen to pass by. He just asked me to audition for the show which I did. Finally, I was selected.” A very interesting fact is that this actor wanted to be in Olympics at one point of time as he avers, “I never wanted to be an actor as I was in sports. In fact, I was known as one of the fastest men in Maharashtra. I have also been a six times state champion but then I quit because I could not get into Olympics. In fact, I had gone under depression post that. This is when my dad moved me towards theatre. The stage helped me overcome my anger and emerge as a new person.” He adds, “I started acting in the play Smuggler and I can say that the movie Once Upon a Time in Mumbai is inspired from it. My dad came up with this play in 1973 which Haji Mastan had then come to watch.” Moving on, when we asked him whether he feels pressurized being paired opposite Sanaya, he promptly replies, “I did not know who Sanaya was till I started shooting. But when I got to know that she is a huge star, I felt nice about the fact that I will get to act with a senior artiste. As far as me being pressurized is concerned, I’d like to say that I am confident.” Has your brother given you any tips on working for TV? “I have been taught how things work in TV precisely. I have been told that I must come on the sets 30 minutes before time and never think about leaving. So, I am very serious about work, hence, I even switch off my phone while I am shooting. So at the moment, I am basically trying to match up with the TV rhythm.” Lastly, we ask the good looking man if he is dating someone and he simply says, “Life is beautiful.” Does this mean he is dating someone? “Nothing like that,” ends the actor. Will Farhan make it to the league of TV’s hot hunks? It is for the audiences to decide but till then keep reading this space for more updates.