Aly Baba

of the Hima Kala Kendra, Aly was picked up by this city-based theatre company while he was still in school. One Christmas play later he was convinced that showbiz was his calling. So much so that he even went to London and acquired a diploma in direction. Back home — in 1992 — he landed a job with UTV as assistant director.

But his career behind the camera went kaput — because acting offers soundedmore tempting — and he found himself drawn in front of the camera, largely "through referrals". The first acting assignment he landed was Anand Mahendru’s Dekh Bhai Dekh. But it wasn’t long before he parted ways with him. Reason: Tellywood’s `Sirji’ culture puts him off. "I couldn’t get myself to stand up when Navin Nischol entered the room and some such @%*&," he says. "That was too much of an attitude for them to handle."

Aly Khan wears his attitude like a chip on his shoulder. He wants you to believe that the idiot box needs him more than he needs it — "I got work even though I didn’t ask for it," he says, lordly fashion. Which is why he considers television just a little bit de classe. Says he, "Theatre is riyaaz. Television is just delivery." So, to stay in touch with his craft, Aly is not only producing and directing a play by Gary Richardson called The Shikara, but he is also acting in it.

But Aly has not forgotten his priorities and paying the bills is an important part of staying alive. Headmits that theatre is non-paying and that television provides for his "bread and butter". He quickly amends that. "I’m making jam and butter."

And the financial bottomline is less important that the underlying fact that he must, no, he needs to act. "Whether on television or stage, in street plays or films, I have to act," he insists. And adds wistfully, "But it is through television that I have gained the little recognition that I have today." Therefore, he is not averse to being "injected" into a serial — even in its 210th episode (Banegi..). "The serial makers just want to add a different flavour, generate a new interest, which is nice," he says.

His TV-generated fame has even thrown a few film offers his way. But nothing too flattering he’s been slotted as brother or friend. He’s got a script for a role opposite Mithun Chakraborty. But Aly turned them down outright. According to him, television offers an actor more variety than films do! A case of sour grapes or blind loyalty? "If Arshad Warsisuits a tapori role, they cast him as one for the next five films. That is not the case with television," he tries to explain. And of course he hasn’t heard of typecasting by the likes of Ravi Rai or of actors like Kuldip Malik or Mahesh Thakur who play the same character, again and again.

So what range does Aly Khan want? "I want to reach a stage when I can even refuse lucrative offers if I don’t like the role. I want to be super successful as an actor," he says with super self-confidence.