I’ve spent a lot of time with my co-stars, which is why someone from the outside may have a hard time understanding the relationship I have with these two women.

For 18 years, as tele-soap star, Ridge Forrester, he has sent women and girls into a swoon with his arresting looks and deep baritone. In India, to promote his new album, the actor-singer chats with ardent fan, Shaista Vaishnav, who proclaims that at 53, Ronn Moss still rocks!

As The Bold AndThe Beautiful continues to do its daily time on the small screen…generations have fallen prey to the crinkled smile and charismatic presence of its lead character, Ridge Forrester, played over the years with seamless panache by Ronn Moss. Off the sets, he is a committed musician, part of an erstwhile band called ‘The Players’ and visited India recently to promote his newest album, Uncovered. Though I know the screen Ridge Forrester like the back of my hand, little is known about Moss in his real life avatar. While he posed for pictures he offered some friendly suggestions, revealing how photography was one of his passions and occupations, amongst acting in small films and commercials, singing and playing, all before The Bold And The Beautiful came along. After which he settled down on a bar stool to reminisce a little and tell all….

You’re going down in tele-history as a character called Ridge Forrester, from a daily soap. Is that why you’re trying to forge an identity for yourself as Ronn Moss through your music?

I’m doing my music because I need a creative outlet. It has nothing to do with Ridge and the show at all. It’s me doing what I’m passionate about and what I need to do. The show is not a creative outlet for me. It’s a great job, an ongoing job, but sometimes it tends to get monotonous, like everything else you do all the time. I have to somehow make it fresh for me every day or it’s not going to be fresh for the audience. That’s my constant challenge…whereas my music is more personal. My new album is something I’m very proud of. Each song is connected to my life. It’s a combination of rock and roll, ballads, vocal-driven melodies…the music speaks for itself really.

Any particular musicians or bands you admire or aspire to be like?
I’ve always loved The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, Super Tramp, Harry Nielson…the list is endless. Though there’s no one I’d particularly like to work with. I think I do best on my own. I’ve played the bass guitar on almost every track in my album. I’ve also sung almost 80 per cent of it. While I’ve written a few, I’ve been very involved with the writing of the songs and know everyone who contributed.

Are your daughters into music too? And do they follow the show?

They don’t follow the show. But they are into music. (Smiles proudly) My youngest one wants to be a singer. My friends do watch the show though.

Are you close to your co-stars or do they get left behind with Ridge in the studio?

No, we’re really close. Like a family. We make it a point to go for dinners together every once in a while. Only the actors. We get along really well. In fact Katherine (Brooke), Hunter (Taylor) and I are all really, really close. My relationship with them is closer than any other personal relationships I’ve had.

Deep brown silk sherwani, by Manish Malhotra, at Ensemble; tan slip-ons, at Aldo.
Location courtesy: ITC Grand Central Sheraton Hotel and Towers.