Difficult to keep track of scripts I rejected: Rajeev Khandelwal

What significance does the title, Fever, hold?

Fever is the fire within us. When the fire within us heats up, that's when our body temperature soars. This is a suspense, a thriller kind of a fever. Fever also signifies passion. Fever, to me is a very different film. It has a unique storytelling. People might say that this is my film so I'll say anything to promote it, but trust me, they will relate to everything I'm saying now when they'll watch it in the theatres.

Share your experience of working with the three leading ladies?

All the three women are fantastic co-stars. They are women of repute and substance. Gemma (Atkinson) and Caterina (Murino) are big international names and about Gauhar (Khan), we all know. So, to work with them, to associate myself with them is a very big learning experience for me. It has made me a better human being and a better actor as well.

How did you prepare for this role?

I spent about 25 odd days with my director Rajeev Jhaveri, where we sat down and discussed everything related to this film. The story in this film starts from a certain point, so I had to know what exactly, at what stage, is my character going to do. That's all what I did.

You have also recorded a song for this movie. How did it go?

Yes, I have indeed sung a song, but it's a promotional song, it's not there in the film. It was an exciting experience. When you are inside the studio and stand in front of the microphone, you automatically feel like a singer. It's only when you listen to your voice later on, you realise the difference between a trained singer and yourself. Having said that, I don't think I'm a bad singer. It's for the audience to decide though. Please go to You Tube and listen to this track, it's called 'Teri Yaad'. I have worked really hard for this song, but it was fun, 'maaza aaya'.

Do you plan to sing in the future?

No, it's not an easy thing and I'm not even half a singer. So for me I know...actually on second thoughts right now...I may just take it up, because when I heard the song, it didn't sound that bad. In fact, I think it'll make the fraternity very proud .

So you have been doing these sleuth/action/thriller movies consistently. Is it a conscious effort to project yourself as an action hero?

No, I don't do anything consciously. I have never taken any decision consciously.

Do you fear getting typecasted?

What typecasting? This is becoming the main genre. See, there are two typecasting happening in the Hindi film industry right now. One is either you are a commercial actor, now that is also typecasting, or, you do content driven films, and that is also typecasting. So I have to decide which kind of film I do, because, besides this there is only commercial genre that we are talking about. Other than the commercial genre, there is content, the stories and I have been part of different kind of stories. 'Soundtrack' had a different story, 'Table No 21' had a very different story, so yes, in that way we are all typecasted. I think it's about the actor, an actor who thinks that this is the space that has not been explored much. You need a lot of raw talent to work in these typical commercial films and there are a lot of actors who're doing it, but, there are also actors who're exploring this unexplored path and I want to be one of them, make this space bigger, so it reaches out to a larger number of audience.

What do you look into while picking up a script?

I pick up a script that doesn't let me sleep. While reading a script, I look for the challenges. I ask myself whether I'll be able to do it. The moment that doubt creeps in, I know, that's the script I'm looking for.

How many scripts have you rejected so far?

Oh...I have a library in my house. You have to visit it in order to believe it. On an average I'll say that every 15 days I get a script. I have mostly worked with debutant directors, so for them I'm this guy who they think will do anything. Rajeev toh kar e lega yeh. Rajeev ko sunao. So I get a lot of scripts. I don't know how many I have rejected. It's difficult to keep a track of those.

What if you wake up one day to find that all your memories are gone, what will you do? (The same happens to his character in the film Fever)

I will be devastated. I...I want to experience it, but I know I can't experience it. So now you would want to know what happens. I think probably...hmm...knowing me as a human being, I think I will start building it from scratch.

You started your career in telly, graduated to films, then went back to telly again and now you have a movie coming up. How do manage to juggle both the platforms?

I do projects. It's you who judge the type of screens. I look at a project and if I find it exciting I do it. They tell me it's for the telly, but if I like it, I do it. An actor is an actor. How does the screen matter. An actor should be able to act anywhere, be it the silver screen, the TV or the theatre.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but, you also said in a recent interview that though TV actors work a lot harder, they seldom enjoy the same fame as a movie actor. Why do you think this is the case?

The media doesn't give that. They say aap TV kar rahe ho sir, movie mein kab jaoge? But do you ask the same question to a movie star? Did you ask Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan the same question when he was doing television?

So you think the media is to be blamed for this?

There's no blame game happening. It's a perception I'm talking about. I'm not blaming anyone, I'm not saying that it's you who does this. All I'm saying is this that why is it when a television actor does films, they always say 'sir when will you do TV again'. It's his choice, let him do what he wants. It's just that you never ask a movie star who does television if he's going to do films again. You take it for granted. You know he's come here for some time and will go back to doing movies again.

So what do you identify yourself with?

I identify myself with my craft. As I said, I look at it as a project. It's kind of stupid to think that 'I'm acting in movies so I'm going to act big and I'm in telly so this is not as good'. It's important to do well whatever you are doing.

What's your idea of romance on screen?

Something that remains with you. Something that has a shelf life .

Will you ever play an out and out romantic character on screen?

I do not know what I'm going to do next. I don't have anything on my head right now. I don't ever plan my life, in terms of work. I leave my slate absolutely blank because you never know when something may just come that you had not thought of.

What's in store for you?

For now, Fever. Following which I'll go for a vacation. I'll not think about work then. After I come back from my holidays, I'll think about work again.