Remember Rajat Tokas? He rose to fame playing younger Prithviraj Chauhan and later climbed higher on the success ladder in Dharam Veer. After his stint in Tere Liye this young star vanished from the small screen. And it’s only after a gap of two and a half years that Rajat is back with Balaji Telefilm’s first attempt at historicals with Jodha Akbar on Zee TV. Tellychakkar.com caught up with the actor at the press launch of the show. “I have been given the opportunity of playing Akbar and it is important for me. As far as playing the character is concerned, I think it’s important for me to understand Akbar’s outlook towards life. This character was earlier played on big screen by Prithviraj Kapoor and then Hrithik Roshan and now it’s being played by me a 22-year old boy. I think fame, success and madness are a deadly combination for a 22-year old Akbar and that’s what you’d get to see on screen,” said Rajat. The show is going to focus on the love story of Jodha and Akbar. Talking about his take on the same, the actor states, “It’s going to be tough. There has to be transformation within us. It’s going to be her effort to change me. So let’s wait and watch how this story of hatred transforms into a love story.” So how much has he worked to get into the skin of the character? “There has been a lot of hard work both at the emotional level. Things like how I must stand in front of the camera, talk and walk were important things that I had to learn. Furthermore, I have been given a very serious responsibility by Balaji Telefilms, Zee TV and also billions watching me there. If I lose my focus, I will lose an opportunity. Therefore, I am living this character 24x7.” Does this mean that you don’t interact with your friends anymore and think of work all the time? “Basically, I do not have friends. Ever since I was a child, I have kept to myself as I do not believe in hypocrisy. If you’re my friend you have to win my heart to be a friend,” he observes. Like any other person, Rajat too was restless during the phase when he had no work at all. “I was very depressed during that phase but I had to be sure that I come back with a bang. Can you imagine what it must have been for a guy who likes working 24x7 just whiling away his time? There was so much of anxiety and curiosity to get back on screen and here I am finally,” he reminisces. On his equation with producer Ekta Kapoor he goes on to state, “She is my boss and I am her artiste. This is how it is for me as I am not a social person. I work like a soldier who will follow his boss’s commands whether he is right or wrong.” We wish you loads of luck Rajat!!!