More than two decades after he walked into the hearts of the (mostly female) audience with his TV series Kahiin To Hoga, Rajeev Khandelwal continues to be popular, despite being extremely choosy about his projects. With hosting duties on shows like Sacch Ka Saamna and Deal Ya No Deal to his credit over the years, the 50-year-old actor now returns to the small screen to host Sony Entertainment Television’s reality show Tum Ho Naa — Ghar Ki Superstar. Also set to be streamed on SonyLIV, this is a reality game show comprising non-celebrity women participants and is described as one with a strong emotional core, blending human stories with competitive gameplay. It premieres on April 28.

t2 caught up with Rajeev for a chat on what prompted his return to the format, what accounts for his popularity, and his other loves — gardening and travelling.

You have said that one of the main reasons that made you want to do Tum Ho Naa — Ghar Ki Superstar is that you felt you hadn’t done enough for your TV fans and this provided a platform. What triggered that thought? What were the other reasons to come back to television?

I have stayed away from television for many years. And every year, I tell myself: “Okay, no fan will walk up to me, no one will recognise me. They will not write to me. The world is changing fast, so many new people have come in and continue to come in. I am sure all the reactions and response to me from fans will stop.” But it hasn’t! People still respond to me, write to me, scores of fans want to meet me....

It really surprises me because attention spans are now so limited. We are living in a world where actors come and go. We don’t remember shows, we don’t remember content. Why would they still remember me?!

Honestly, I had been wanting to do something on television for a long time, like a romantic role in a limited series. But I was only being offered daily soaps, which required months of commitment. I was so disheartened. I know that I will never do a daily show because I walked out of them many years ago.

The moment Tum Ho Naa was offered to me, it resonated with me because the show involves women. I felt this was the right way to come back (to TV) because the major chunk of the love that I get is from women. It has been undying, it has been amazing.... More than anything else, it has been beautiful. They have turned up for me in every medium that I have worked in, and that also holds true for Tum Ho Naa. For me, this show is all about giving back that love.

A major reason I wanted to do it is because it celebrates those women who are probably not celebrated in everyday life. There is a huge section of women in this country who maintain a home daily but their contribution is never acknowledged, it is always taken for granted. There are so many people whose mothers and wives are homemakers and when asked what they do, they say: “Oh, they do nothing.” How can one say that mummy kuch nahin karti?! She runs the whole house! Every time I think of it, I get teary eyed.

These are the kind of women who are present on Tum Ho Naa. We also have working women who run their homes parallely. They share their personal stories and it is very heartwarming to hear them. As a host, hearing their incredible stories of struggle and success makes me feel small. They may still be struggling, but on stage, they smile, they dance, they play games....

On most other reality shows, we have provocation... they try to push the participants and provoke them in order to bring out the negative side of their emotions. Most often, it feels like war unfolding on screen. Tum Ho Naa is the opposite of that. On this show, everyone roots for everyone. There is sheer joy on this show, it is very positive.

You hosted the reality show Sacch Ka Saamna many years ago. Though the format is starkly different from your new show, did it inform and influence you as a host?

Yes, it did help. I had a thought process on how I would navigate Tum Ho Naa and hosting Sacch Ka Saamna did help in opening me up in terms of interacting with the participants. The best host is someone who listens, and Sacch Ka Saamna taught me that. On Tum Ho Naa, I have been very comfortable listening to those who come in with their stories. And when I hear them, I can talk to them better. They are the superstars of the show, not me.

On Sacch Ka Saamna, there was very meticulous research of the contestants. The same is the case for Tum Ho Naa... knowing their backstories helps me understand them better. I have been very comfortable with the participants, all of who I met for the first time.

Despite doing limited work, have you ever wondered what has sustained your popularity over so many decades? What will happen if you lose the love and recognition one day?

I have, honestly, never worked towards the goal of being liked or loved. I am, of course, very grateful for it. I have, in fact, stayed away from the spotlight as much as I could. I have taken several breaks in my career. I have never done a fancy photoshoot. I hardly put up any pictures of myself.

If no one recognises me tomorrow, I will not be insecure about it. I have been preparing myself for this for years now. Each time I go to the airport or any public space, I enter as if nobody knows me. But people are always kind, they always make me feel special.

But in my head, I am prepared for it to all go away. If it does, I will not be the first person this happens to. But yes, it is a great feeling to be loved.

How is the gardening and the travelling going?

I am doing much, much more of gardening! (Laughs) In fact, Manjiri (wife) has gone one step ahead of me. Every floor of our home in Mumbai has now got a garden and then there is the terrace. We keep planting something or the other. We keep getting seeds and plants from our Goa house.

Travelling has been a little less over the last few months because of the situation around the world. It has just been between Mumbai, Delhi, Alibaug, Doha.... I will need to start travelling properly again. Right now, I am itching to get out of Mumbai.

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