Cricketer turned actor Salil Ankola is a busy man these days. For he is not only shooting for an upcoming film Tera Intezaar with  Arbaz Khan, but is also part of the soon to start Colors mytho Shani Dev where he plays Surya Dev.“ My character in the above film is exciting, for  it traces the metamorphose of a sweet guy who turns negative.   I have known Arbaaz since my cricketing days . We had done Power Couple together as well. The film shoot should finish around October.  ”  Coming to  Shani  Dev he says,“ This is a very expensive mytho and we have pre shot a lot.  The biggest challenge is to get the body language right.”  Salil’s  other well known TV shows include Karam Apna Apna,  Kora  Kagaz,  and Savitrri. ‘  He  has  also acted in films like Kurukshetra and Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne many years back.

Salil who had a tumultuous personal life, with his first wife Parineeta comitting suicide, had no issues coming on Power Couple and talking about life, “ I  have been an alcoholic and felt that  if it could encourage others like me to come out, it would be worth the effort. Anyways my life has been splattered all over the media.  Any form of addiction destroys you. The success rate of deaddiction is very less. I am among few lucky ones to have come out. Treatment is not simple you don’t go to a psychiatrist who writes you a prescription. You can only come out of if you can convince yourself to stay out of out addiction.” 

He did admit that it did take  a toll on his personal  life including his kids. “ Parineeta is no more  but I was lucky to have found an anchor in Ria Banerjee. She is a doctor and helped me come out & deal with my issues. I feel that had she not been there I would have been dead by now"

Sali who had to quit cricket  at  an  early age of  27  due to injury  does not  really think too much of  ongoing cricket biopics. “ What you saw on  Azhar  was not the real story.”

- Anil Merani