Baghban was one of my biggest mistakes, says Aman Verma

On the sets of the upcoming show Ek Maa Jo Lakhon Ke Liye Bani Amma, in Hyderabad, the lungi-clad Aman Verma has your attention. The actor will essay the role of a don in the show. He joins us for a chat about his new assignment, the moment he is finished with his shot. In a no-holds-barred conversation, the veteran actor makes some startling revelations. Excerpts:

Iconic actors like Mehmood have played a South Indian guy umpteen times, and left a lasting impression. How are you looking to explore the role of a South Indian don in the show Mehmood sahab did a fantastic job when it came to playing a South Indian but his roles were more of a caricature because it always had a comic angle. I am trying to get away from that mould and make it look realistic. Also, the character that I am playing in the show is something that nobody in the TV industry has essayed so far.

Your marriage to Vandana Lalwani has been postponed because of a personal tragedy. Have you set a new date for the wedding We are still trying to get out of the tragedy that has happened. Whenever we finalise a date, we shall let you know.

You started with a bang with films like Baghban but somehow things haven’t been looking very promising for you on the Bollywood front. Does the situation alarm you Baghban, I felt, was one of my biggest mistakes, honestly because I played the role of a man who already had a grown-up daughter. I was 31 years old at that time and I was playing a dad to Rimi Sen. That particular role made people think that I was in my 40s. Eventually, everything that started coming to me after that were roles of father to grown ups. Even though I was skeptical, I could not say no to Baghban because I was very close to Ravi Chopra. Secondly, the whole fact that it was a film with Mr Bachchan also made me sign up for it. I told Ravi to make me the younger son but he was clear he wanted me as the eldest son. He believed I would do a fantastic job. You have been pretty notorious for your infamous temper but looks like you have sobered down. How did you manage to achieve the impossible I wish I had this calm mind when I had come to Mumbai about 18 years ago. It would have worked wonders for me at that time. But I was volatile at that time. Had I been always like this, I would have been in a different space altogether. Given your not so successful stint in Big Boss, would you still consider doing a reality show if you are approached There is lot more to me than getting on a reality show. It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose. How you behave while doing a task matters as it shows the background, the culture and the family you come from. If I was not there till the end because I wasn’t screaming, I can’t help it. Reality shows work for a short while. I have a lot more things to achieve so I can show that people love me, for my work and not for my stints in reality shows.