Ashish Sharma

“TV does not offer much for the male lead actors, but I was lucky to act in shows like 'Chandragupta Maurya,' 'Rab Se Sohna Isshq,' 'Gunahon Ka Devta,' and 'Rangrasiya.'”

“'Siya Ke Ram' will leave us with hardly any scope to think of other projects. And I wouldn't want to work on something and not be whole-hearted in it, either.”

“I am from Jaipur where 'Ramlila' is a common theatre act. Though I was a thin, lanky fellow, I was always offered the role of Hanuman.”

“Men in Rajasthan pride themselves on their moustaches. It is a sign of their masculinity.”

“'Siya Ke Ram' is the story of Sita and Ram as two equally strong individuals, and I feel 'Ramayan' is as much as Sita's journey as it is Ram's.”

“In Jaipur, I did almost everything from regional theatre to Shakespeare's plays. But when I shifted to Mumbai, I joined Anupam Kher's academy, Actor Prepares,to hone my acting skills.”

“When I came into television, the serials were all women-centric, while the men had to stand around like furniture. I wasn't willing to be a prop in serials. To my good fortune, I got serials where I was a central character.”

“I was always passionate about acting.”

“I have grown up on literature and mythological stories. They have fascinated me since childhood, and I believe every character that I portray on screen is an extension of my personality to some degree. That is why whatever role I play seems in my comfort zone.”

“Once this old lady saw me in airport and just kept smiling at me, and after much hesitation, she came and asked me, 'Are you Ram? Can I touch your hair? Is it real?' and I happily obliged.”

“I can't stand the slow pace of Jaipur anymore. I like staying in Mumbai, as everyone is on the move.”

“All the characters in 'Rang Rasiya' are inspired from the Shakespearean drama 'Othello.' This is exactly what interested me to take up this role.”

“I always had this dream to act: so much so, even as a child, I used to take part in Ram Leelas.”

“A lot of people thought that it was a foolish step to move to television. But for me, it is all about the creative satisfaction I get.”

“Direction is something that interests me. Even while shooting, I always have conversations with the director to get a better understanding of shooting technicalities.”

“I'd rather sit at home than be a part of a popular show and be a piece of furniture.”

“I think I have been blessed to play a variety of roles. I have experimented and done different things.”

“There are too many positive and goody male characters on TV, and they work, so its good for them. I feel each to their own. If it works for them, it's fine. I don't connect to such characters, so I won't do them.”

“You can ask my wife - there has always been mutual respect between us, and I believe women should be respected for what they are; at no point should they feel the need to be like men.”

“Sita and Ram were two strong individuals, and their love for each other is an example for lovers across the globe.”