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“I am really happy being back with Balaji and two of their rocking serials. I was in touch with Ekta and had told her that if there’s anything for me I would love to do it. She said she would give me something that would suit my personality, status and charisma. She had first offered me role as Dr Abhinaav Gupta in `Kkusum,’ just for four episodes. After two were telecast, my appearance was so well received that Sony wanted to continue my role and it’s become a lengthy one. Now it’s parallel to Abhay's role.”

Amarr Upadhyay’s rise to fame began with Anand Mahendroo’s serial `Dekh Bhai Dekh’ and reached a crescendo as Mihir in `Kyunki... Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.’ His death in the serial created a nation-wide protest, so much so, that the serial makers had to bring him back. Then the serial took a 20-year leap. Amarr didn’t want to take the leap, ’coz he was interested in doing films. He took a decision to quit the serial. He signed films like `Dhund – The Fog,’ `Wah Wah Ramji’ and `LoC.’ All sank at the box-office.

Later he was seen in Sahara’s `Saathiyaan,’ but that too disappeared. Now he’s back to Balaji. In `Kkusum’ he is a doctor and in `Kasautii Zindagi Kay’ he is lawyer Mahesh Bajaj.

Amarr sounds thrilled at his luck. And there’s `Kasautii Zindagi Kay’ too. “Oh yes, that’s a wonderful role of a lawyer who has never lost a case. Though Mahesh Bajaj is Komolika’s lawyer, he’s actually trying to help Anurag Basu get back his son. I just love playing the lawyer, there’s so much of talking, arguing, shouting, I am enjoying myself.

He is Mahesh Bajaj and there’s Mr Bajaj, played by Ronit Roy, who is doing Mihir in `Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.’ Coincidence or what? “I absolutely love the guy (Ronit Roy). He did `Jaan Tere Naam’ (film) in 1992, I did `Dekh Bhai Dekh’ (serial) in 1992. I was the original Mihir. He’s Mihir now, and even in `Kasautii...’ I am his brother Mahesh Bajaj. I used to meet him at parties and got along with him. When I met him on the sets of the serial, he came and hugged me warmly and said, ‘Welcome back to Balaji and the serial’. Everybody in Balaji greeted me warmly and with affection,” he says smiling.

What about films? “I admit I made a mistake in doing those films. I should have waited for sometime for better offers. I regret not doing Shah Rukh Khan’s `Chalte Chalte,’ the role that finally Jas Arora did. Now I will be very careful and make the right choices. I want to do a film with Shah Rukh Khan. Farah Khan (choreographer-director) is a close friend of mine. I have told her I want to be in her film `Happy New Year’ starring Shah Rukh Khan, I will not charge a paisa from her. She said that the casting hasn’t started and she will see if something can be done for me.’ So finally things are falling in place. “I think so, plus I feel this new house that I have just shifted into (Versova) has brought me luck. I searched so much and finally bought this one, according to Vastu Shastra. I shifted on June 2 and four days later Balaji offered me two of their rocking serials. I have also got a great Telugu film with one of the biggest stars. Once the dates are finalised, the details will be out.”

“Some really good offers from big filmmakers have come to me, for second leads and great character-based roles. This house has changed things for me. In my Malad house, I lost my mother, my career was not happening. I hope luck favours me now,” Amarr sounded gung-ho and upbeat.

Amarr Upadhyay’s begun his ride to fame.


Chandrika Bhattacharya