Veteran actor Vishal Singh is quite happy doing Star Plus show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. He had recently replaced Karan Mehra as Naitik. “Feels really good to be part of the Singhania family with  all their positive values and relationships etc. Kudos to the Director’s Kut  team for keeping the freshness of the show alive for so many years. It is indeed a challenge to replace someone else who has played the character so well, but then I am ready for it.”

He does not think that with Hina Khan (Akshara) quitting the show as well, it will mar the show’s chances.“When  the family comes together some magic happens, so even if certain character’s are not there, it will not really matter.”

Vishal who has been on TV for last many years, starting off with Dekh Bhai Dekh and Gul Gulshan Gulfaam etc. He has also done family shows like Bhabhi and Ek Ladki Anjaani Si. “Changes happen every five years in terms of types of shows, markets and working conditions. I guess what is really important is how you adapt yourself. I am selective about the kind of  people I prefer to work with.”

He does not think current TV content is regressive, “ StarTV promotes new modern thinking. But India is huge, so different type of shows will always  be made for varied  audience profiles .”

Among all the shows he has done, Vishal regards Dekh Bhai Dekh as closest to his heart, “ For it made me realize   what I wanted to do. I also enjoyed my last show Parvarish for I had very realistic father character .”

In closing Vishal regards the younger generation of actors as very hard working and talented.“They learn much faster and their confidence levels are much higher, but as I joke with Shivangi Joshi (Naira) and Mohsin Khan (Kartik), they are lucky to have A/C studios, unlike us back then.” 

- Anil Merani