the big picture the big picture

I am not a hero. I’m a middle aged character actor. The position SERIAL I have today

will be taken THRILLERhen a cameo was offered to just 40 and I believe it when people say As he shoots for his Ronit Bose Roy in 2002 for daily that life begins at 40.” Wsoap Kasautii Zindagi Ki, little Certainly, apart from acting, Ronit tomorrow by latest soap Bandini, did he imagine that the role would last has been keeping himself very busy. him over five years and that, with it, he Whether it’s dabbling in dance shows or SAKSHI SINGH would become one of TV’s most recog- anchoring popular reality shows, he has someone nizable faces. With the role of business- done it all and enjoyed every minute of man Rishabh Bajaj, astounding success, the journey. “Like a Hindi masala film, TOLANI catches up fame, and respect followed, all long my life has had its share of action, emo- else. overdue making him one of the highest tion, drama in both professional and paid actors in television and the apple of personal. Whatever I have done in life, I with TV‘s leading man the eye of the then reigning queen of the take absolute responsibility for it. I have small screen, . done it with full knowledge of facts. I Ronit Roy and comes But before that sudden success, Ronit have no regrets whatsoever.” Roy had had a string of movies fail at Unlike his younger brother, the out not only charmed the box office and was being written off more flamboyant Rohit completely in . He was mak- Roy, Ronit ing his living running a security agency but spiritually for celebrities, a business which he continues to run to enlightened. this day. Both profes- sional and personal challenges clouded his life back then and the journey to his pres- ent success has been long and tedious. “I have just been through the prologue. The main book has yet to start but the pro- logue itself consists of so many books. I feel like my life has just begun. Today I’m

02 THE PLOT JUNE ­­­­’09 JUNE ­­­­’09 THE PLOT 03 the big picture

Roy seems fairly oblivious to his stat- But there must be something about time by being everywhere all the time.” ure in the outside world and chooses to him that makes him stand out from He seems to be a man who thinks remain unattached to his stardom. “I’m the rest? Persist and he will reluctantly deeply about things. “I believe in God not a strategist, a visionary, an analyst admit what he thinks is his contribu- and I believe I am God as you are as or a person who is here to climb the tion to his craft. “Honesty, experience, well. And godliness resides in all of us. ladder. I was never in the rat race and research. Like every other actor, I try I like to lead an intuitive life. I trust my never will be. I am not a hero. I’m a and get into the skin and heart of the gut feeling rather than assessed infor- middle aged character actor. The posi- character. I ask a lot of questions until mation and researched facts. For me, tion I have today will be taken tomor- I’m convinced about my role, the script my life, my business revolves around row by someone else. It will happen and the delivery. So I need answers. people. I don’t do businesses with com- and I know it so what do I have to be And when I don’t get answers I fight for panies but the people who run those afraid of?” Perhaps it’s his acceptance them. If I still don’t get them I make my companies. And I’m not saying this be- of the mechanics of celebrity that lends own answers. I can’t deliver my lines cause life is easier for me now. I have him an aura of contentment, calm and blindfolded. This is one reason I’m not done that at every stage in my life. If I serenity. Ironically, it’s this attitude very popular on the creative circuit!” haven’t felt comfortable doing busi- that has made it possible for him to A strong believer in religion and spiri- ness with someone, I have walked away accomplish all that he has. tuality, he is eager to guide me on how I leaving my share of the pie; it probably He is quite at ease being the simple can tune in to my intuitive self by prac- was never mine in the first place. In the family man, a householder who loves ticing the simple power of negation. “By same way, I like to surround myself in to spend time with his family and treats saying ‘no’ to people and not biting off life with people I love, as opposed to a his job just like any other person would. more than we can chew, we can lead a multitude of people where you waste A doting father to daughter Aadore and more patient, positive and happier life. time, energy, mind space, emotion. As son Agastya, Ronit spends quality time You can’t keep everyone happy all the it is there is no positivity in the world; with his children and enjoys every mo- whatever little exists gets broken down ment. “I simply like being with them and fragmented.” and around them. Earlier I used to An inspiration to many who want to rush to work and not be able to spend make their mark in television, Ronit enough time with them in the morn- himself has a few people he admires ing or say goodbye. Now I make it a and would love to learn from such as point to wake up half hour earlier and who is a dear friend and in- just hang with my family. There is no spiration. “I recently had the chance to set agenda. Mothers are the ones who spend time with Mr. Bachchan in Macau. have agendas. They have to make the I was completely stunned by the way he kids go to school, give them a bath, feed conducts himself, the way he works, the them etc. For me it could be anything kind of energy he has, everything about from running around the house to go- him was stuff that legends are made of. ing swimming with them or playing in It’s such a rewarding and pleasant ex- the park.” He spends this quality time perience to see it firsthand.” reciting stories to Aadore, watching Mr. So what else is on his wish list? “Life Bean with his kids, solving the Rubic’s is still a struggle. I now have more fa- cube for them, going with the flow. “I cilities and comforts but am still part of like being a father to my children rather the struggle. Instead of traveling by bus, than a friend. I would like them to start I now have a car so things are slightly growing up with what I have learnt at 40. easier but everything else remains the I want to put them on a path that may ROY BOY same.” Ronit is well aware that wealth not give them success but, I’m sure, will He shares his birthday, 11th October, with Amitabh can be a double edged sword. “Too much definitely give them happiness.” It’s no Bachchan. of anything is not good. I want to strike wonder then that his mentor Ekta cited the right balance of religious; spiritual him as her dream husband. He has never got his portfolio shot. and emotional. I want to make just the Not taking an iota of credit for his right amount of money for me and my He became close to Aamir Khan on the sets of success, he insists he owes it all to family. What I would really like to do is Lagaan where he was handling his security ar- his team of writers, directors and all engage in farming. I feel passionately rangements and even attended Aamir’s private the artists that are involved in creating about it. Maybe I will have vineyards and his character. “I play a small part in a wedding ceremony at Panchagani. grow organic vegetables. Apart from large gamut of things. Purely based on Former model and TV actress Neelam Singh is his this I would like to take my children to the fact that the shows that I have done second wife. He has another daughter named Ona every Disneyland in the world. My wife have been successful, the people refer residing in the US from a previous marriage. loves to travel and so I would want to to me as an icon. Stardom can be scary take her around the world, sit by a café and there is no sense of permanence in He once had a huge car fetish but is over it now. on the waterfront in Paris where we these things.” could just sip on some wine and talk...” He is dying to try bungee jumping and experience what it is like to free fall. 04 THE PLOT JUNE ­­­­’09