Friendly banter

Iqbal Khan and Mona Singh — the closest of friends behind the scenes — talk about their sizzling onscreen turn in Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do

Contrary to its title Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do is not your regular love story, and its stars Iqbal Khan (who plays Ishaan/Rizwan in the show) and Mona Singh (Preet) give it that much-needed edge. Off screen, say the two actors, having personalities that are very similar means they get along like a house on fire. In an interview with us, Mona and Iqbal talk about what it’s like to have the other as a co-star, what life on the sets entails, and more. Over to the onscreen couple:

Mona, Iqbal, what do you think makes your onscreen chemistry such a hit with audiences Mona: Our onscreen chemistry has to be a hit! Just because we get along so well personally, we are great buddies. We understand each other, I think. Iqbal: Yes, I feel my onscreen chemistry with Mona works as we both share a really good bond as friends. We both have almost the same personalities and are very chilled out.

Tell us a fun fact about you co-star. Iqbal: Mona is just mad! She is crazy. She laughs a lot, which is one very good thing about her. Her laughter’s infectious. Mona: Iqbal has the funniest stories to share with everyone about his school and college days. He cracks the best of jokes. Whenever I am with him, I am always happy and giggling.

So has there been a time when you’ve been shooting a serious scene but have ended up laughing instead Mona: There are giggle fits and giggle attacks irrespective of whether the scene is funny or serious! Iqbal: If a joke is cracked in the make-up room, it gets carried to the sets. It stays in your head and at times, in the midst of a scene, it clicks for both of us and we break into a laughing fit! There are times when the shoot is paused and the unit waits for us to finish our joke!

What’s been the funniest/cutest fan comment about your jodi Iqbal: All our fans have been so kind and sweet. I can’t recall any fun comment. Mona: I come across so many cute and funny comments from our fans. They call us Ishpreet, Ishreet, Rizspreet etc. I find it amusing when people talk about our chemistry onscreen because we’re like two gundas, two buddies on the sets. We find it bit difficult to digest that.

What’s one thing about your co-star that you admire and one thing that annoys you Iqbal: I admire Mona for her positivity — no matter what the situation, Mona is always positive. She has lost a lot of weight and she looks stunning but she still keeps saying she needs to reduce more — this is something that’s a bit annoying. Mona: What I admire about Iqbal is that he is very sweet, humble, down-to-earth and friendly — be it with anyone on the sets. One annoying thing about Iqbal is that he is a big foodie! So if you sit down to eat with him, you will always end up eating more than your capacity!

Who is the bigger foodie among the two of you Iqbal: Obviously I am the bigger foodie as Mona eats like a bird. Mona: Yeah, Iqbal is always gorging on biryani and chicken. Whatever you give him, he’ll finish it all! He loves ice cream and so do I. He usually calls for ice cream after the lunch break. He’ll call for two and then I end up eating it too.

What’s been a crazy moment on the sets Iqbal: Jyoti who plays badi mummy in the serial once got rajma chawal on the sets for everyone and there was a party scene happening when there was a weird smell... Well, kidney beans are not good when it comes to wind! Mona: We were shooting with all the family members in the scene and it was bade papa who had his cue some 10 times in the scene but he kept on forgetting it each time! In fact everyone else on the set remembered it. We all had a horrible giggle attack on the sets!

Rapid Fire Favourite corner on set: Iqbal: A couch that’s plonked right in the middle of the sets. That’s everyone’s favourite. Mona: There are these two green sofas that are very comfortable and are loved and attacked by everyone! Even I love that corner.

I am addicted to: Iqbal: I am not addicted to anything in my life and I feel that’s a good thing about me. Mona: Nothing.

Song on my mind: Iqbal: Let It Go from Frozen! My daughter keeps listening to it over and over so it’s on my mind as well! Mona: Love Me Like You Do from 50 Shades

Last movie I enjoyed: Iqbal: Since we started shooting for the show, I haven’t had time to watch a film. But earlier, I would take days off and take my family out for movies. Mona: Tamasha — I loved the story and Deepika. I felt it was an amazing way to tell a love story.

I’m most afraid of: Iqbal: Losing people who are close to me. Mona: Lizards and cockroaches.

My dream date would involve: Iqbal: Going for a long holiday — we haven’t had one in a long time — with my wife Sneha and daughter Amara. Amara has just turned four, going on a vacation with them would be lovely Mona: A long drive with great music or just sitting by the sea, having ice cream or kulfi, gazing at the stars, chatting and laughing together.