Not at all. I don’t believe in the media hype ?negative or positive ? about me. An actor keeps struggling all his life. My first big break Kahiin To Hoga was a turning point in my life. I auditioned for Sujal’s role in Delhi along with 500 other hopefuls. I got selected.

I can’t comment. But even after I quit the show I’m known as Sujal. The women continue to think of me as Sujal. I respect their feelings.

I don’t know why. Those who know me don’t despise me. Probably these rumours have to do with the insecurities of the rumour-mongers. They’ve nothing to do with me. I don’t care about such allegations. I care about my work and the people I work with. If the spotboys feel I’m not a good human being then it’d be time for me to go for a reality check. Otherwise, I don’t care what’s written about me.

Not really. We both know what happened. It was a mutual decision for me to move on. Her ideas on how to play Sujal didn’t jell with me. The actor within me couldn’t agree with the way she wanted the role to be played. I could’ve worked with Balaji Telefilms for 10 more years. They could’ve slashed my price, and I wouldn’t have cared. But the liberties being taken with logistics in my characterisation were unbearable for me. I was being watched minutely by viewers. It was Sujal who became a rage, not Rajiv Khandelwal.

I don’t know about that. I’ve stopped watching Kahiin To Hoga. But when I’d go abroad as Sujal I’d be mobbed far more intensely than so many filmstars. Women threw jewellery at me. Did I have the right to enjoy Sujal’s stardom when I was no longer enjoying playing him?

I won’t be dishonest. I did my best on the serial. I can’t comment on other departments of the serial. It did succeed in getting me out of the chocolate-box image which people thought was insurmountable. I think Sujal cannot be forgotten. But Varun in Time Bomb wasn’t rejected. People liked my action sequence. If I was ripped for it, that’s okay. It means I make a difference. I don’t go out my way to offend people.

It would be improper to comment. But, yes, I had certain expectations. And I got to work with awesome people. I evolved as a person and actor, I was given a rupee. I tried to show it as five. I’m not doing the second season of Time Bomb.