“You can’t start thinking you’ve arrived with your first serial. If you do, you are on the way out even before you have arrived. You know, I’m working with some of the most disciplined and work-oriented seniors in Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka, like Dolly Thakore, Bharati Achrekar and Dara Singh. Daraji actually stands with his hands folded when the director explains the shots. That’s the humility and concentration I also saw in Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol when I was shooting with them for Meghna Gulzar’s Baat Pakki. But I have never encountered such behaviour before during any shooting,” says Eijaz Khan about his spat with costar Sanjeeda on the sets of Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.

Ever-reluctant to get into controversies Eijaz opens up grudgingly. “I’m no longer stressed. I’m smiling, and shooting. The show must go on. But on Monday I was stressed. See, when I’m on the sets I expect my costars to pay full attention. That’s the way it was during Kahiin To Hoga and KavyAnjali. That’s the protocol on the sets…at least, it used to be. It isn’t so anymore. Everyone chats at the top of their voice. They’re only fooling around constantly. For me, the whole universe revolves around the scene that I’m doing. Maybe other TV actors think TV is a casual medium. Not me. When I give a good shot I feel optimum satisfaction.”

The actor sighs. ‘We’ve a new director in Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka. At the end of the day I feel responsible because Mrs [Shobha] Kapoor or Ekta are not standing on the sets, and I don’t want the wrong information to filter back to them. Today, I have a decent technical knowledge on camera angles, etc. So I’m able to contribute to the production. Unfortunately, others around me don’t seem to share my enthusiasm.”

So what happened between Eijaz and his costar on Monday? “I was trying to coordinate a scene with a five-year-old girl. She had to give a multitude of expressions. I was constantly rehearsing with the kid when I heard loud voices from a corner of the set. I don’t want to specifically say anything about any one actress. Any kind of disturbance on the set bothers me. I did ask that the noise be stopped. Sanjeeda took offence. She turned around and challenged me, asking, “Who are you talking to?” I turned around and reminded her that I don’t speak to her until I have to. Voices were raised. I lost my cool. I left the set and raised my voice at the EP. I told him I’d go back on the set and raise my voice again at her if there was any lack of discipline.”

When asked if Sanjeeda was a disruptive force on the sets Eijaz turns sarcastic. “She’s too big for me to comment on. She is, after all, playing Nimmo. You’ve no idea what I’ve gone through. I don’t let such things affect me on a personal level. But my work gets affected. The other actors may think it makes no difference. But every shot means a lot to me. I’d like to add that I’ve put in three years of hard work, 18 hours a day. That’s not Sanjeeda’s problem. But it’s a measure of my dedication to my work. I know screw-ups happen. I don’t want to be responsible when they do. I had a similar run-in during KavyAnjali.”

Eijaz is going ahead with his work in Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka. “I won’t let anyone affect my efficiency level. So what if I don’t get along with my costar? I’ll just act as though we get along. True, we’d have done much better if there was a camaraderie.

“If I’ve to raise my voice for my work I’ll do it. But this is not the way to function specially on a new serial. I know how much is riding on me through the two serials I’m doing. I can’t let Ekta Kapoor down.”