Chaitanya Choudhary is a man in demand these days. After his success in Sangam and the immensely popular Zara Nachke Dikha, his popularity index has gone up many fold. Tellychakkar spoke to him exclusively on Sangam, the recent leap in the serial, his new looks, and his future plans. Excerpts from the interview:

Sangam recently had a leap. Tell us something about the leap and how it is going to affect your role.

Well, thankfully it is not a leap of several decades! It is a leap of just seven years. My character Sagar Bhatia has become much quieter after that leap. His wife - Kaveri has passed away and this has left a bad scar on Sagar's mind. Sagar's only aim and motivation in his life is his daughter who is seven years old now. His entire life revolves around her. Another change that has happened in Sagar's life is a relocation from Mumbai to Pune. Due to some problems in their business, Sagar's family has lost a lot of wealth and is no longer rich. They live like any other middle-class family and everyday Sagar has to think of how to earn his bread and give his daughter the best life has on offer.

Has your look changed?

As I said there is a leap of just seven years, so my looks will not change drastically. I have not used any white powder in my hair! In such a short span, a person's looks usually don't change much, but my dressing style will undergo a complete change. The earlier Sagar used to wear jeans and blazers always, while the new Sagar will be more into formal shirts and trousers keeping in line with his middle-class living. I will also be wearing a pair of spectacles to give that extra effect.

Do you think your fans will accept you in this new look?

(Smiles) All I can say is this the first time I am playing an elderly character. I am very nervous and excited at the same time. I am excited because as an actor it will be a challenge for me to do justice to the role. I will be able to grow as an actor through this role. And I am nervous because I really don't know how my fans (read female fans!) will react. I wish I could know that in advance! I just want to tell my fans that I can't do the same role for many years and I will appreciate if they keep on supporting me. I promise that I won't disappoint them for sure.

What happened to Jennifer's character?

Ganga is very much there in the show and will be in Pune teaching in a school.Ganga Sharma has been sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for murdering an innocent villager. Even though Ganga is languishing in jail, she is content about isolating herself from Kaveri and Sagar's life. Gradually, Ganga will adjust to the dull life in jail and will start painting to take care of her boredom. After spending eight years in the jail, the court, pleased with Ganga's attitude, reduces her punishment by six years. However, Ganga does not want to leave the jail as she has no one awaiting her outside.

What about the rumours of Sangam going off air?

I am tired with answering questions pertaining to this rumour now! Let me tell you something -- Sangam is the number one show in the 7 PM slot which is unique and very tough to achieve. The 7 PM slot is early one and it's not easy to keep pace with the audience. Fox Television Studios (the producers of the show) is a very good production house and they are very focused on quality and storyline. This is something we need nowadays badly, since all the existing and new shows are going off air. We just have a few months to go for completing two years.

Any new shows coming up?

My fans have seen me in my dancing shoes in Zara Nachke Dikha and I am looking forward to a new reality show (read Jo Jeeta Wahi Dancing Star) I might take that up. I love to dance and I believe I am a confident and pretty good dancer.