Television heartthrob and Aamir’s leading man Rajeev Khandelwal will host Sach Ka Saamna (STAR Plus, Monday to Friday at 10.30pm, after July 15 premiere), the desi version of The Moment of Truth, a show where contestants answer a series of 21 increasingly personal and embarrassing questions to take home cash rewards. A t2 chat with Rajeev…

How did you come on board of Sach Ka Saamna?

Siddharth Basu (the producer of Sach Ka Saamna) is the sole reason I am on the show. He called me up a few months ago saying: “There is a show that I would like you to host and I am sending across a DVD of The Moment of Truth. Have a look.” I told him that I was very busy with my films and wasn’t in the frame of mind to host a reality show right now. However, he insisted that I have a look at the DVD at least once. I saw the DVD for less than five minutes and was completely bowled over! I called up Siddharth Basu and said I was in.

So what about all those reports that you took months to say ‘yes’ to Sach Ka Saamna?

My decision was prompt, there were no two ways about it. This has been a pattern in my life, I am pretty impulsive about some things and very laidback about a lot of things. I liked the format of Sach Ka Saamna and immediately gave my nod. Even with Aamir, it was the same thing. I just took two hours to decide that yes I was doing the film. But then again, there are so many scripts that have been lying in my house for months and years and I still haven’t been able to make up my mind. Now don’t ask me which ones!

Generally, actors who move from television to films don’t come back to TV so soon and so easily. Why did you decide to come back after just one film, especially when Aamir was a sleeper hit?

Yes, Aamir did very well. But I am not doing Sach Ka Saamna with the intention of getting back on television. Sach Ka Saamna is powerful television, the kind of television that anyone would like to be associated with. It is going to change the way reality shows are done on Indian television. I am happy and proud that I have been chosen to be part of a groundbreaking show like Sach Ka Saamna. On this show, we retain the fun and excitement of a reality show but will also try and tickle society’s conscience which has been lying dormant for a while. I am just waiting to see the impact that Sach Ka Saamna has on the Indian audience.

How are you planning to balance your film career with Sach Ka Saamna?

Sach Ka Saamna doesn’t take up too much of my time. We shoot for 10 days and then have a 20-25 day break. I am free to schedule my film shoots at that time.

Keeping the sensibilities of the Indian audience in mind, to what extent will the format of Sach Ka Saamna be modified?

We haven’t really tinkered much with the format. Most things stay true to the original show. Of course, the questions have been framed keeping in mind the fact that we are dealing with the Indian audience here. But some of the questions are going to be very shocking!

How comfortable are you asking participants probing personal questions?

Well, honestly speaking, I had to work very hard to get comfortable. Again a lot of credit for this has to go to Siddharth Basu who groomed me for the show in a lot of ways. I was taught the art of asking shocking, personal questions without getting judgmental. Today, I am much more comfortable than I was a month ago. Along the way, I also realised that the questions may be contestant specific, but all of us can identify with these questions. Like, for example, if I ask someone embarrassing questions about his various love affairs, the same holds true for me because I have had a number of affairs myself! It’s just that he has chosen to be on the contestant’s chair and I happen to be on the chair of the person asking the questions.

How true are the reports that a number of celebrities refused to be a part of the show?

Yes, there were many who didn’t want to face the sach on Sach Ka Saamna. But then that’s pretty understandable. Celebrities spend half of their lives trying to guard their privacy and their personal lives. So why should they just bare it all on a television show? We did approach a lot of well-known faces for Sach Ka Saamna, but when they declined to be part of the show, we respected their need for privacy. There were some who were courageous enough to lay bare their lives on television and these are the people who are there in Sach Ka Saamna.

Does Sach Ka Saamna mean a lot more of Rajeev Khandelwal on television?

No, no no! I am not going to be doing and soaps or any reality shows. After Sach Ka Saamna, it’s back to films.

Finally, what is that one personal question that you would never like to be asked?

(Laughs) Oh, let that remain personal. The day I want to bare it all, I will. Till then, let the skeletons lie in my closet.