In a career spanning over a decade, Rajniesh Duggall has been a part of projects across mediums — films, television and more recently, OTT. However, the actor is now back on the small screen for a daily soap.

“The reason for making a shift towards television is not that I was not getting enough work. In fact, I had four to five projects and I have just finished shooting for them. But, a thought [came to mind] that what if these five projects do not get released or are put on hold because of the Covid-19 situation... Also, the projects I was getting, I didn’t like them. Mujhe laga main inko karunga bhi toh koi fayda nahin hai. So, [I thought], why not explore the television industry? I was getting so many calls [for shows]. That’s when I decided to try my hand at television,” he explains.

But, did the thought of being frowned upon ever occur to him? “Luckily, I do not have the TV actor tag. And, lines between mediums are blurring. I have Inspector Avinash (web show) coming out soon, which also stars Randeep Hooda, Urvashi Rautela and Amit Sial. Then, I have Bal Naren, a great film on the Swachh Bharat Mission. The film is already making its way through the film festival circuit. Then, there is a web show called Front Page, of which Sandeep Kaul is the director. That also has a very interesting cast. I am also doing another film based on a true incident that took place at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur (Bihar) in 2018... Achhi cheez ye hai ki I am working in all mediums, so nothing else really matters,” he shares.

What’s most important, Duggall adds, is to have work throughout the year. “I learnt while doing Khatron Ke Khiladi (reality show) that you need to put your 100% into a task. The worst that can happen is that you will fail. But, you will at least have the satisfaction of having made an honest attempt. I do exactly that with everything in life. I think one should keep working hard. Give your best and then quickly move on to the next, instead of procrastinating. That’s how life is,” he wraps up.

Rajniesh Duggall's penchant for authenticity has caused him a lot of pain, literally. For a scene in Vishal Pandya's Wajah Tum Ho, the actor had to be administered an injection. While the director was okay with a dummy injection, Rajniesh insisted on the real one. Finally, a nurse was called on the set.

A source present on the set recalls, “The nurse was efficient, but she wasn't an actress. So, she became conscious in front of the camera and ended up injecting Rajniesh at the wrong spots. It took eight takes to get her act right.“ The actor, though reeling in pain, cooperated without any complaints.

In the film, Rajniesh plays the owner of a TV network that gets embroiled in a live murder.

Wajah Tum Ho, produced by T-Series, releases on December 2.

Rajniesh Duggall and Sunny Leone who were last seen in Ek Paheli Leela will be back together for Rajeev Choudhary's Beiimaan Love. And just like their last outing, the actors are hoping to steam up the screen with a romantic Ankit Tiwari composition, “Pyaar De“. It was shot over two days in September in a bungalow in Mumbai.

Rajniesh and Sunny had a steamy sequence in Leela too. Rajniesh insists that they are not inhibited in front of the camera. “Sunny is a dear friend, so there wasn't any awkwardness between us. We wanted to make the song look classy. The film has everything from love and revenge to lust and grief,“ Rajniesh signs off. 

You seem to have a lot of ishq and love in your career!
Yes, I know. Probably because I am a romantic at heart (laughs). On a serious note, yes it's interesting actually. I first worked Karisma Kapoor on Dangerous Ishq. I have done a Banarasi rom-com Direct Ishq, which is my next release and then I am currently in between Beiimaan Love, which is a dark romantic film with Sunny Leone! So, I suppose there is a lot of ishq and love right now!

Two films with Sunny Leone! Is Sunny turning out to be your favourite?
She is very good to work with. We have worked in Ek Paheli Leela and it was appreciated. A lot of producers have been calling for films that feature both of us together. So, I would definitely say that, yes, we do make a good jodi.

You have a lot of steamy scenes with her. What does your wife say?
Of course, there were steamy scenes in Leela and there are some steamy scenes in Beimaan Love as well. But my wife Pallavi knows this is acting, and I know this is acting. Sunny knows it is acting. I don't see any reason to go by other people's judgments. We are within limits and its fine.

You also did some TV. Would you take a Bigg Boss or something like that?
Khatron Ke Khiladi was a great experience. I had also done a musical show called Ramleela Ajay Devgn Ke Saath. That was my first experience with TV and it was an amazing experience. KKK is something I always wanted to do as I love adventure. But Bigg Boss is something I would not be able to do. I don't like getting confined into a certain space with other people, 24x7, for such a long time. But there are some other interesting nonfiction shows that have come to me. You might just see me in a mini-series soon!

You started with a hit but then things went rather slow for you...
Post 1920, I shot for a film called Phhir, which was a good film but took about two years to release because of some issues that the producers had. That pushed me back by almost two years and was a huge blow. Especially because I am not from a filmy background or from anywhere where I would be making my movies myself ! But now I am on track. I have around four films.

How did Ek Leela Paheli and KKK work towards getting you back into the scene?
KKK worked well for me as a person. There were earlier certain hesitations that I had as a person whether I should do some things or not. These hesitations went away after the show and I became clear when it came to decision making. That was a positive change. And that's a reason why Leela happened. When the role was brought to me it was just seven minutes long in the past life. When we shot it, it turned into a full on hero's role that was a part of the 35 minutes past life!

Taking off on the ishq part of your career, how romantic are you in life?
I have had a love marriage. Probably this is a question you should ask my wife. I am a romantic person and I suppose it is evident at some level too.

Do you look forward to sharing and interacting with your fans on Follo?
Of course! Follo is a great initiative. This is one place where we would actually end up talking to or listen to actual fans and admirers. I am really looking forward to this!

Aping her favourite movie star and playing the cool dude is passé. When it comes to wooing their dream girl, our television actors swear by old-school rules like chivalry, honesty and gift of the gag. So, if you are looking for the best way to capture a woman's heart, here's your chance to learn some tricks from these charmers:

DON'T PRETEND:
Women stay away from pretentious men, observes Ashish Chowdhry. He advises men to be themselves, adding, “Simplicity with a dash of humour is the best way to impress a girl. If you are honest and genuine, you can never go wrong. A little financial indulgence also helps. Girls like surprises, so springing one on my date would be my style of wooing. I would also plan a romantic holiday to an undisclosed exotic location and pamper her to no end. That's the best way to make her feel like a queen.“


LOVE IS IN THE AIR:
Arjan Bajwa wants his woman to feel on top of the world, literally. He says, “I'm very fond of flying and so, I would like to take her on a short joyride with me in the cockpit. Fly over the hills and lakes and serene vineyards. Who doesn't like wading through the clouds while you are with that special someone?“


BE A GOOD LISTENER:
It is simple: Women love to talk and be heard. If you ignore either of these facts, it can nip the very possibility of a relationship in the bud. Says Rajniesh Duggall, “It is a must to shower her with compliments. Honesty, loyalty and most importantly, lending an ear to everything she says, do the trick. Gifts sure are a part of it, but striking a good conversation and paying undivided attention are even more important.“


CHIVALRY ISN'T DEAD:
Rithvik Dhanjani disagrees with guys who think it's okay to skip good manners with a potential girlfriend. He says, “There is a lack of chivalry in guys today. For women, it is often small things that matter most. So, treat her like an equal and be chivalrous at the same time. Both can go hand-in-hand.“


IGNORANCE IS BLISS:
Shivin Narang feels fawning over a girl and overdoing it can spoil the scene. It's best to try and gauge if the woman is even remotely interested before going all out with your feelings, he cautions, or you may end up with an egg on the face. He says, “I'm unusually shy and find it odd to express my feelings. But when I want to woo a girl, I use my old-school technique, which is to ignore her in the beginning. It gives me time to understand if she is interested in me. Also, women love men who play hard to get.“

 
BE SINCERE:
A guy's looks and monies do matter to a woman. But a real woman would look deeper. “If you want to woo a woman, you should be honest, sincere and loyal towards her. Give her importance and keep showering love and affection upon her. I think these things would matter more than looks and money,“ says Sahil Anand.


WAY TO A WOMAN'S HEART IS ALSO THROUGH HER STOMACH:
Today's women adore men who can keep up with her even in the kitchen. Your cooking chops can give you an edge over your contemporaries. Vivian Dsena says, “I am a good cook and would impress my girlfriend by cooking for her. Anyone can take his girl to an expensive restaurant, but going that extra mile and cooking for your lady will make her feel extra special. Besides cooking dishes of her choice, I would also prepare my signature dish, a special dessert - kesar dry fruit rabdi - for her. It is said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but it holds true for women, too.“

CLEANLINESS MATTERS:
A man should not be overbearing while wooing a woman, says Gautam Rode, adding that cleanliness can help him score a few brownie points. “Don't make it obvious that you are vying for her attention. If you overdo it, she will back off. Being yourself is the ultimate deal maker. Being presentable and smelling good will also attract women. Body and mouth odour are big turn-offs.“