"When you have Hritik, why do you want me?"

Rajeev Khandelwal's success story with Aamir is now a beacon for scores of television actors in Mumbai that they too can make it in Bollywood. One struggling actor with whom I had coffee recently had some interesting nuggets about Rajeev.

Almost eight years ago, Rajeev's parents were very upset about their son's decision to take up acting. His father, an army officer, in true filmy style told his son to choose between home or acting. Rajeev left home and stayed with friends. He then started making corporate films and came to Mumbai with the proverbial single suitcase. He shared accomadation with drivers and workmen. And then got his break first with some commercials and then with Ekta Kapoor.

The interesting thing is that a couple of years ago Rajeev a successful TV star, bought a Honda CRV, drove to to Jaipur and showed it off to his father. Last heard the son-parent relationship was healing well.

The other interesting nugget is that Rajeev was also called by Farhan Akhtar when Lakshya was being cast. He asked Farhan, " When you have Hritik Roshan, why do you want me?"

Lastly, even though Rajeev had earned a reputation as the romantic Sujal from his TV serial, he has several times confessed to his close friends, "I will commit to a relationship only when I have achieved my ambition of making it big in films."

Good to see someone having so much self-confidence despite the early insecurities in life and profession.