Yash Gera who essays the role of Shaurya Maheshwari in Star Plus’ Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hain (Director’s Kut) is happy and excited, for he is getting to do quite a lot in the present track. For the uninitiated, the ongoing track has seen quite a lot of drama with Shaurya ending up being the father of Kuhu. And for Yash, playing an elder character has been a challenge. Says Yash, “Personally, I am happy as I have got a performance-oriented track in the show. And it is funny that I had left Yeh Rishta in between, only to return after sometime. Well, I had some personal work and I decided to quit it. I was not there during the months of December (2015) and January (2016). And when I left, the team of Yeh Rishta had told me that the doors were always open for me and I could get back. And then I got back exactly during the sangeet of Ananya.” Ask him whether it is tough to play a character elder to his age, and he explains, “It is true that I have never played such a character before. But my surroundings in the set helped me gauge my role better post the leap. Take for example, Sanjeev Seth and Lata Seth. Both are brilliant actors and there is so much to learn from them. I will say that I have grown as an actor by playing a more mature character.” Ask him whether he is not afraid of being type-casted in such character roles, the actor avers, “No, there is nothing like that. I believe that a character stays alive in mind only till the show exists. So I have no apprehension for the future. In fact, before leap I used to weigh around 90 Kg, but in the post leap phase of the story, I reduced very much in weight and looked very young. So after this show, I will take a small break and get back in a new look, no doubt about it.” On the kind of genre that he will want to attempt next, the actor quips, “There is not much scope to perform in a positive role. And I have always been comfortable doing the negative ones. Having said this, any good role is what I will want.” Yash, we wish you luck!!