Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; June 25, 2014)

Manish Paul is happy that he has been called back, by popular demand, to host the ongoing season of dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7.

He says, “It's good to be back. I have a great relationship with the channel and hope to recreate the magic. I struggled a lot after moving to Mumbai, but now, my hard work has paid off. Having said that, I don't let success affect me as that will be my undoing."

With expectations being so high, there is immense pressure on him to deliver. But the actor-host says he believes in being natural on the stage. “I become a different person when I am on the stage. God starts playing his role then. I literally go into a trance when I hold the mic," he says.

Even last season's pallu act with Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Manish explains, wasn't planned. “It was impromptu. I just did it once and was asked to repeat it as it became a hit," he says.

On the Bollywood front, his second movie Tere Bin Laden 2 is being looked forward to. “The movie has shaped up well. Its USP is a well-written script. It has amazing twists and turns,“ he says. All that Manish is willing to reveal about his third film, which he will start shooting after Jhalak, is that it's a rom-com. Ask him if he chooses a film that fits his unconventional looks and he replies, “Firstly, the producer and director should like me for the role. Then, I should be convinced that I fit the bill perfectly. I like unconventional roles."