Meet Gautam Gupta, the laidback, charming, and bitingly witty new star of Tellydom. After an ‘almost avoidable’ cameo in Meri Aashiqui, the actor is now playing the lead on Star Plus’ romantic saga Kuch To Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan.

The Balaji find agreed for a quick conversation with Tellychakkar.com and spoke at length about his journey, shows, singlehood, friend Mandana Karimi and a lot more...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

This is your first show as a lead, and the heroine is not even in love with you...

But the audience has all the love for me (smiles). To be really honest with you, I am not someone who really looks into all of these things. People tag me on social networking sites, but I do not enjoy it. There is no specific reason for it, it’s just that I want my work to speak for me. My focus is entirely on my performance.

Since you are close to Ekta (Kapoor), your presence in her shows is said to be a friendship deal. Your take on it?

Well, she might take me on her shows for now. But eventually, I would have to prove that I am capable of the role assigned to me. I really don’t care what others say, all I want is that people should realise the hard work I have put in to reach the spot. Yes, Ekta did give me a break, but she also chose to cast me as an extra. I have struggled hard for the last five months before KTHTMD came along.

So how did you swim through your struggles?

It was really challenging! In MATSH, all I did was stand. For more than five months, I was doing nothing. Then they worked out a track for me and today I am happy juggling two shows.

Mandana Karimi is quite close to you. Calls you her brother. Will we ever see you doing something like Bigg Boss?

No, I will never do it. I am someone who would want to perform various characters. I am an actor and would want projects that showcase my talent. As for Mandana, she is a great girl and I would want her to win the show. Sadly, I haven’t had the time to watch her on the show yet.

Tell us what your equation with co-stars Vibhav (Roy) and Shreetama (Mukherjee) is?

It is super fun and chilled out. We are not like over each other all the time as we do not get time to talk a lot. But we understand and respect each other. Also, since they are senior to me, I get to learn a lot from them.

So what is the relationship status of this good looking, rich actor?

(Laughs) I am a simple guy, working on TV, who only thinks about getting home soon. It has been 40 days that I have been shooting nonstop for two shows. Where will I get time to date someone? Yes, I was in a long relationship for 13 years but for the last couple of years, I am single. I am chilling out and trying to give all my time and energy to my work.

Have you ever been friend-zoned like your reel avatar?

In a way… yes! But not directly (laughs out loud). I was put in that zone when the girl was already in a relationship and  made me her buddy...