Back in the game

Over the years, actor Mukesh has become a household name among Malayalis through his television shows. His mini screen stint began in 2000 with the show Kodeeswaran. It was a new experience for television buffs when he hosted a game show Sell Me the Answer in Asianet, but the show went off air abruptly, leaving the audience disappointed. Now, Mukesh is back with the second season of Sell Me the Answer and says he is ready to face new challenges.

“It is a risky and challenging position. Hence, I chose to be a part of this show,” says Mukesh, who keeps no expectations about the outcome of the second season. “A programme is like a movie. One cannot expect that a team which had made a super hit movie would reap the same success in their next. In a show like this, each day is different. You deal with different kinds of participants every day. It can either go good or dull. The success depends upon many factors,” adds the actor.

The new show will have no change in the main format. However, the team has added some new elements to make it attractive. “We have included a round where one viewer could ask a participant a question through a video. Also, we have added artistes among traders; they could show their talents to the world through the programme,” elucidates Mukesh, who also hosts Badai Bungalow, a humour-based show in Asianet.

And, he is humbled by the compliments he gets for these shows. He recollects one such encounter. “One day I met a family who told me that they had to tell me something serious about Badai Bungalow. I was wondering why they have to be serious about a humour-packed show. But, their appeal surprised me; they requested me not to withdraw from the show at any cost. That shows their emotional attachment to the programme,” says Mukesh.

It seems he is getting closer to people with his decision to seek people’s verdict in the upcoming Assembly elections as an LDF candidate from Kollam. Mukesh believes that a politician must be spontaneous and ready for improvisations. “A politician cannot work as per script. He must work understanding the needs of the people. If I win this election, I will act keeping this in mind,” he sums up.