‘I Like Being On The Brink Every Day’

‘I
want
to
make
it
on
my
own.
But
could
you
tell
me
where
to
start?’

Kyunki
Saas
Bhi
Kabhi
Bahu
Thi
actor
Vikas
Sethi’s
sudden
death
shocked
friends
and
colleagues
in
the
television
industry.
The
48-year-old
actor
was
among
the
hundreds
of
hopefuls
who
descend
on
Mumbai
every
year
with
dreams
of
making
it
big.

Vikas
was
a
simple-hearted
struggler,
who
never
quite
got
over
his
struggle.

“I
want
to
make
it
on
my
own.
But
could
you
tell
me
where
to
start?”
he
had
once
asked

Subhash
K
Jha.

Subhash
first
got
to
know
Vikas
after
his
big
screen
debut
in
Deepak
Tijori’s
directorial

Oops
in
2003,
a
bold,
tongue-in-cheek
satire
on
male
strippers.

Vikas
was
promising
and
eager
to
score.
But
the
opportunities
were
meagre.
A
fleeting
part
in
Karan
Johar’s

Kabhi
Khushi
Kabhie
Gham
as
one
of
Poo’s
beefy
dates
didn’t
help.

Vikas
had
a
brief
stint
of
success
with
Ekta
Kapoor’s
soap

Kahiin
To
Hoga.

He
said
it
changed
his
life.

“Frankly,
I
don’t
know
where
I’d
have
gone
if
it
wasn’t
for

Kahiin
To
Hoga.
I
worked
10
hours
a
day
on
this
soap.
Playing
Swayam
became
second
life
for
me.
Sometimes,
I
forgot
my
own
name.
When
my
wife
would
call
out
for
me,
I
would
forget
who
Vikas
is.
Even
in
public,
I’m
known
as
Swayam.
It’s
like
finally
finding
my
identity.”

Vikas
had
spoken
of
his
struggle.

“Before
Ekta
gave
me

Kahiin
To
Hoga.
I
was
struggling
for
movie
offers.
I
had
a
tough
time
meeting
producers,
let
alone
signing
films.
I
had
reached
a
point
where
I
had
begun
to
wonder
if
I
was
that
bad.
The
film
industry
welcomes
only
well-connected
actors.
I
can’t
remember
the
last
time
an
outsider
made
it,
except
John
Abraham.
I
believe
my
role
in

K3G
had
been
offered
to
John.
It’s
all
destiny,”
he
had
said.

Vikas
Sethi
was
hopeful
about
the
big
screen.

“Movies
are
movies.
You
can’t
compare
it
with
success
on
television.
It’s
like
comparing
a
sandwich
at
a
roadside
stall
with
a
meal
in
a
5-star
restaurant.
I’ll
do
only
one
soap
at
a
time,
no
more.
Earlier,
I’ve
done
just
two
other
serials.
This
is
my
third.
I’ve
no
plans
of
doing
more.
Where’s
the
time?

“I
get
paid
decently
and
my
role
is
interesting.
I
like
being
on
the
brink
every
day.
I
don’t
know
which
way
my
character
will
topple
over.”