In conversation with Manish Raisinghan and Avika Gor of 'Sasural Simar Ka' fame'

Fans have named them Rosid as they characters Roli and Siddhant have touched a chord with the viewers. Here's an exclusive chat with actors Manish Raisinghani and Avika Gor.

Most memorable romantic scenes from Sasural Simar Ka and why?

Manish: Every Roli - Siddhant scene better known as Rosid scene is memorable for me as every scene is made with the our heart, soul and passion and sometimes blood too because Avika and I have landed up being hurt badly in the zest to give the best to our viewers. 

Avika: The best part is I call myself a Rosidian. As a Rosidian for me Roli - Siddhant's wedding was the most awaited sequence. The first marriage was only a compromise, the next wedding was a lovely sequence. Roli was unwell and Siddhant picked her up in his arms and did the pheras.

Some qualities you admire and somethings you would like to change in each other?

Manish: You may call it "great minds think alike" or "fools seldom differ" thats the best way I can answer that because we have the exact same approach towards our work in front of camera and behind the camera, the enthusiasm, the "thinking out of the box" mentality and open-mindedness towards ideas. As for something I want to change in her, I do not want her to grow up because as a kid when she came back from school we shared a very special bond. I would want her to retain the same kind of innocence forever. I love kids and I would always want her to remain a kid. 

Avika: I like that Manish is very warm and affectionate towards everyone and treats everybody equally. I want to change one thing, which is not in my hands. I wish that he was a girl because people keep telling me that after i turn 18 our friendship might be seen in a different light even if he keeps treating me like a kid.

Some guilty indulgences?
Manish: Gadgets, not all gadgets I buy are useful for me and that I chooses to realize after I’ve spent on them. I guess utility is not the factor when I buy but yes exploring it definitely gives me a kick then and guilt later.

Avika: Overeating. Honestly i dont really feel guilty about it but my mom keeps reminding me that this indulgence is detrimental l for my career . So once in a while guilt also crops up.

What’s your idea of a perfect date?

Manish: Class to start with and a heart to end with

Avika: I’m too young to date anybody . So never even given it a thought.

Name your first crush?
Manish: My 4th std school teacher and the dare devil I was then, I confessed my love to her. The beauty is the feeling was mutual in a li’l different way. She told me "Baby I love you too and my boyfriend adores you too". That was puppy love at its best.

Avika: Shahid Kapoor's character in Isqh Vishq

One unforgettable moment in your personal life and one from professional life?

Manish: A personal moment was when I got to know that my sisters marriage is fixed and she will b gone. I congratulated everyone nicely and excused myself n went to my room, opened my cupboard, dug my face deep in the heap of clothes n started howling and crying. Within minutes my sis was there with me hugging me from behind and crying with the same intensity. We were very attached to each other and there wasn't a day she went off to sleep without sharing her day with me nor did  and the funny part was both of us are known to be the tough kids of the family physically mentally and emotionally… so till date we laugh bout that moment which moved the two so called "rocks"
A professional moment was in my first show Kahin kissi roz. One fine day I was told I was replaced as my hindi wasn't good and i couldn't do justice to the character. So I said bye to crew and I left from set very casually as i knew i couldn't act for nuts which I had already told them when they decided to cast me. So i packed my bags and left for Pune thinking thats how much i was destined to act… on my way i went to balaji house to say bye to the rest of my friends as i thought that was my last day in Mumbai. When i said bye to Nivedita, the creative head she scolded me for "just leaving like that". She went out n had a conversation with Ekta (Kapoor) and told me "you are not going anywhere and you are going learn hindi, read a hindi news paper every day, we know you are sincere and you will do it."

Avika: I always wanted to hv a pet, there were 5-6 Chihuahuas and all were equally adorable As i was touching and feeling those angels . One of them gave me a very different response as i held his face his eyes went moist. He’s my Shiroo and that made that moment the most memorable moments of my life. Professionally every moment of SSK is memorable.

Any favourite memories you can pick up from growing up years?

Manish: My favourite moments come from my experimental nature as a kid which continues till date. I am one curious case, I always wanted to know "what happened when" so i always wanted to understand things like, what happens when i apply tooth paste on someone’s hair, so i used to do that while they were sleeping. What happens when in the middle of the night when someone is sleeping and I jump on them or put water on them or break an egg on them or what happens when i push someone who is answering nature's call" so i used to do i all n much more which should not be mentioned here.

Avika: Every moment from my growing up years is special

A compliment from a fan that made you blush?

Manish: I can proudly say that i have come across a lot of amazingly witty fans and they manage to put me in a blush blush situation a lot of time but there is this one incident I was on stage for an event in Gujarat having a fun interaction wid the crowd and my eyes kept stopping on this 70+ lady who was there with probably her daughter in law and was constantly showing me her fist and when my eyes stopped on her n she realised  that I'm not understanding what she is trying to convey.. she held her daughter in law's hand n did the pinky finger gesture with her which Roli and Siddhant do in SSK,that moved me… i always thought ROSID was just a teenage sensation because the couple is very high on energy and romantic.

Avika: A small baby coming and asking me for an autograph and the baby just ran away after giving a kiss on my cheek.

Rapid fire round
What do you associate the following with?

Black-
Manish: Grace
Avika: Clothes make you look slimmer.. wink wink

Pink-
Manish: metrosexual
Avika: For me pink is equal to Shalini Sahuta (co-actor)  who appears to be more pink than a cotton candy from a distance as she is dressed in pink from head to toe and to add to it her bags to key chains and even her bedroom is pink

Holiday-
Manish: Some day, for now no time for it.
Avika: Sleep eat dance play repeat

Food-
Manish: Did someone just say SSK actors?
Avika: Butter chilli garlic noodles

Fans-
Manish: The fuel to my fire!
Avika: Rosidians.

Fashion-
Manish: A statement your style should define
Avika: Be yourself and even a nightdress will look fashionable

Shoot–
Manish: My playground… in front and behind the camera both
Avika: Hobby

Surprises-
Manish: My specialty when it comes to giving and my resistance when it comes to receiving.
Avika: Bad at keeping secrets so even if I plan a surprise I myself bust it.

Rumours-
Manish: Reminds me of the statement by Mr Dhiru Bhai Ambani "you will never reach your goal if u stop n throw stones at every dog barking at u"… this is where "ignorance is bliss" I put to practice.
Avika: They deserve ignorance not attention.

Children-
Manish: My best buddies. At home I have my nephew and niece and on set I had avika n now as she is growing up I have Twisha, Ritvi and Aarav on sets to create some madness on sets.
Avika: They touch my heart.  Their innocence is beautiful

Love-
Manish: The minute you define it you confine it and you confine yourself also to doing that much only what you define. Love is where you set your heart free and watch it fly and enjoy the flight...
Avika: Should be unconditional. The way my Shiroo loves me.