shaheen@mid-day.com | Nigaar Z Khan | Small-screen vamp Nigaar Z Khan, best remembered as the diabolical Sheetal in Lipstick (Zee), has finally shed her negative image. She will appear as the sacrificing Divya in Ayushman (Sony) from tonight.
"I am sure people will not recognise me in my simple character in Ayushman," says Khan about her new avatar. In fact, when Cinevistaas, the producers of the show, approached me for the role, I wondered why they had selected me. It was a challenge for them to present me in a totally new and positive light."
The track has Divya playing Dr Kavya's (Riva Bubber) sister, who is back on the scene after years to reclaim her child Kush. Due to societal pressure, Divya, an unwed mother, had left the child behind. When she remained untraced for many years, the family assumed she was dead.
Says Siddharth Malhotra of Cinevistaas, "One will see Nigaar in a totally different look, an absolutely positive character. It was a challenge for us to portray that and gain sympathy for the character. Divya will go through great emotional turmoil when she sees her own child attached to Kavya."
Khan points out that because of her negative image in her debut role as Sheetal (in Lipstick), "People assumed that I could only do grey roles. Somehow, I got slotted into that glam, vengeful mode. Though as Geeta in Saathiya, it was a positive track. But I entered the show towards the end, so in a sense, Ayushman is my first big positive role."
Khan is looking forward to doing more positive parts and, hopefully, after Ayushman, to being seen in more of the goody-two-shoes roles.
shaheen@mid-day.com |