Sumit Kaul, who plays Justin in Asoka, is fondly called Saifu by his co-actors. He confesses to being slightly obsessive compulsive regarding the way one behaves in public.
“Politeness and diplomacy are integral to my behaviour in public. So among friends, who are engaged in a casual gossip session, I refrain from expressing my opinion. My friend Vinay Rohra from Laagi Tujhse Lagan would call me Saifu on the sets because of this tendency of mine, to play safe. I never take sides in an argument. I prefer to be the mediator.’
He likes to play safe in matters of the heart too. “I am a one woman man. Although that means no casual flirting for me, it also means I can truly be friends with my female colleagues, who are comfortable around me because they feel ‘safe’. Even on the sets of Asoka, I am seen as the ‘safe guy’. The tag because could mean a lot of things but I’d take it as a compliment. It could also be that other men on the sets are often left feeling jealous.”
