Yukti Kapoor on how she was told by casting directors she cannot be a poster girl

Actor Yukti Kapoor continues to attain a lot of love for her now-long running role as the fierce no-nonsense cop Karishma Singh in Maddam Sir on Sab TV. Interestingly, she is also playing Goddess Lakshmi in a spiritual reality show, Swarn Swar Bharat. Talking about playing these diverse characters with ETimes TV, Kapoor said, “When I was offered the part of Goddess Lakshmi, I didn’t bat an eyelid before taking it up. I worship Lakshmi Mata, so, essaying her on TV is like a blessing from Mata herself. Of course, the mythological genre is a lot more challenging because of the heavy costumes and chaste Hindi. I can’t make up my dialogues or improvise. I have to stick to the script.”

Kapoor has indeed come a long way with her journey from playing supporting characters to playing the lead face. Talking about it, she said, “It’s been a long journey. There was a time when I could only afford to dream about becoming an actor while sitting in my small room in Jaipur. I have struggled a lot. I started my career with small roles and supporting characters of a sister or a friend. I came to Mumbai seven years ago and while I was trying my luck in acting, I was told by a casting person that I could never become a poster girl. That’s because I was a little chubby. However, instead of feeling dejected, I worked hard on myself for two years. I lost weight and today along with playing Goddess Lakshmi, I became one of the protagonists in Maddam Sir.”

She adds, “I have groomed myself. I have become wiser and positive. Baithe baithe kuchh nahi milta… mehnat karni padegi. I am grateful to my detractors, as they pushed me to work harder and prove them wrong. They made me realise that I needed to work on myself to become a better artiste and human. I don’t equate success with money or fame. What I have become today is my success story.”

Kapoor is best known for her roles in shows like Siya Ke Ram and Agneephera among others.