New Delhi: Television soap star Anuj Saxena of ‘Kkusum’ fame is looking for an image makeover and feels his Bollywood debut in a thriller is the best way out."I specifically decided to do a thriller for my debut because I wanted to do something different from what I have already done on television. I have done mainly intense roles, so I wanted to take on something else. One of the dangers of television is that people remember the character but not the actor.
"Even today many people refer to me as Abhay. So, with `Chase` I am trying to establish Anuj Saxena," Anuj told reporters in an interview.
"Chase", which is being produced by Anuj`s production house Maverick and is looking at a November end release, also stars Udita Goswami in the lead. It is being directed by Jagmohan Mundhra.
The film, which was earlier titled "Begunaah", is the story of a man who is punished for a crime he did not commit and his struggle to prove his innocence.
When probed regarding his role, the actor, who has been working hard on his look, said: "It`s not a different role in terms of the subject. The film is a thriller which is very normal nowadays. But it`s the action sequences and the presentation of the film that will make it unique."
"Also for me the biggest USP of the film is that the director is Jagmohan Mundhra. He has his fans and he is known for making good and critically acclaimed films," he added.
Anuj, who has an MBBS degree and is managing director of Elder Pharmaceutical Ltd., started his acting career through television with a show on Doordarshan called "Aasman Se Aaagey", also starring Amrita Singh and Pankaj Kapoor. He later went on to become a part of popular daily soaps like "Kkusum", "Kumkum", "Kora Kaagaz" and "Saara Aakash" among others.
However, he left television in 2006 when "Kkusum" completed 1,000 episodes.
"I left television because it came to a saturation point. After doing five years of `Kkusum`, it was like doing the same thing again and again and there was nothing new that was happening. Everyone has to move on in life and take a decision. I don`t have any regrets," said Anuj, whose first film under his production house was "Aloo Chaat", starring Aftab Shivdasani and Aamna Sharif.
So, why didn`t he launch himself with his first production venture itself?
"I didn`t open my own production house to launch myself. I`m a businessman first, for me Maverick is a business house. The company has to make money and I`m responsible for that.
"So I select subjects that I feel as a producer I can produce and if a director feels that I`m suitable for a role then I might take it, not force my way into it," he said.
The actor`s next is also a thriller that will go on floors in December.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.