Ejaz Khan is a survivor

With ‘Kavyanjali’ wrapped up, Ejaz Khan is now concentrating on ‘Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka’ (Star One). A self-professed workaholic, Ejaz says, “Work is my religion.” That producer Ektaa Kapoor named him amongst one of the most promising faces on TV comes as no surprise then.

Bouncing back: Ejaz traces this reverence towards work to an accident in the past, which left him incapacitated and unemployed for a long time. He recalls, “My right shoulder was severely injured. Doctors had given up hope. I tied a rope to my hand, put a pulley on top, and started moving it slowly. Doctors refused to treat it further because there were already eight screws in it. If they would try something else, the bone would crack. From being a 73 kgs black-belt karate champion, I had to begin again from scratch.”

My work, my religion: Justifiably Ejaz adds, “That’s why I never turn away from hardwork.  Sometimes my time schedules go haywire. My sleeping habits are bad. I get headaches, and I fall asleep anywhere. But Mashallah whatever I do, I do it with love.” The diligent actor adds, “I have a long way to begin acting effortlessly. I am amazed by the natural way in which actors Kiran Karmarkar and Hiten Tejwani render their dialogues.”

Lost childhood: Slipping into a sentimental mood, Ejaz recalls his lonely childhood having lost his mother early in life. He says, “I have never felt a mother’s touch. Every time a friend’s mother puts her hand on my head, I get goose bumps. I can’t believe the fact that mothers get up at four am in the mornings to pack tiffin for their children.” He adds, “I tried to expect motherly love from my relationships but I lost.”

Balaji bhakt: The actor who began with films has made Balaji his home. “My loyalties will forever lie with Balaji. It sounds like sycophancy but even with my education, I wouldn’t have been able to live my dreams, the way I am doing now.” Listing what the Balaji honchos have taught him he says, “Jeetendraji once said, ‘Never ask for the proverbial Sunday because once it comes, it never goes away’. From Shobhaji (Kapoor) I learnt to balance production with creativity and the importance of telecast deadlines. Ektaa’s passion is amazing. Ask her about any show and she’s speaks like a child in a candy shop does about candies.”

My girl: The actor, who is the pin-up boy of a thousand female fans, seeks something special in his dream companion. Ejaz says, “She has to be very intelligent, someone I can converse with. She has to be my friend. I’d like it if she’s pretty and has long hair.” He signs off saying, “Giggly girls turn me off!”
k_farhana@dnaindia.net