Annu Kapoor will be next seen in the film ‘Fakir,’ which happens to be the debut film of Farhan Akhtar.

TV hosts arrive and vanish. He’s a constant. Here’s Annu Kapoor in conversation…

You’ve been associated with ‘Antakshari’ for almost 15 years. What keeps you going?

Music gives me energy. I believe it’s God’s gift to mankind. It’s a stimulant for many people and personally I think music contributes a lot to our lives. Ah yes, ‘Antakshari‘ is as much a part of my life as it of the viewers’.

Does the show still enjoy as much popularity as it had when it had kicked off?

Of course. It continues to be such a hit show… also the format has changed for the better. Initially it used to be music-dominated.

Now, it’s like a reality show, with adequate drama thrown in for good effect.. there are fights, cold wars and stream of tears.. we have to stage it all.

Hasn’t ‘Antakshari’ been sidelined amidst the wave of musical reality shows like ‘Indian Idol’ and ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’?

‘Antakshari‘ has remained unaffected. Having said that, every show has its own audience.. don’t forget, water finds its own level.

What’s your take on ‘Indian Idol’?

I don’t get the time to watch TV.. so I can’t say. All I’ll say is not to get fooled by what has come to be known as reality shows. ‘Antakshari,’ somewhere, has touched a chord, it touched millions of lives. What they call reality shows are actually smart ways of making money. The channel and the telephone operator, hand-in-glove, end up minting money.

Do you enjoy the new ‘Antakshari’ format more than the old one?

I was emotionally attached to the previous ‘Antakshari,’ because that is where it all started. That was the turning point in my career.

At 52, do you find it difficult to cope with the tight schedule that ‘Antakshari’ demands?

(Laughs) Ab main boodha ho gaya hoon. It is very difficult to shoot continuously, TV demands actors to work at a frantic pace. The auditions for the show happen ever so often.. add to that the dilemma of choosing the right team.

Haven’t you found more success as a host than as an actor?

I don’t know about that.. yes, ‘Antakshari‘ has brought me enormous success. Part of the credit for the success also goes to my director, Gajendra Singh who helped me tremendously.

Why have you stopped acting in theatre?

Because I don’t get the time to do that.. I know I can’t devote the kind of time and space that theatre demands of its actors.