TOI: No more bahu roles -- Rati

These TV actresses flatly refuse to get slotted in repetitive roles

Rati Pandey
"The popular notion is that saas-bahu sagas attract maximum TRPs and so, we even have those tracks in shows that start on a different storyline. In Hitler Didi, they had introduced a similar track but then they had to shift to a different one because it did not work. I think everyone is tired of watching kitchen politics and I'll never play a typical bahu."

Kavita Kaushik
"I can't wear a saree, mangalsutra, sindoor and behave like a docilebahu. There is an ocean to be filled as far as television content goes, but we continue to stick to tried-and-tested formulas. I've never followed popular trends. If television is about women-centric shows that talk of women empowerment, why are women always crying on shows?"

Shweta Kawaatraa
"People have to think out-of-the-box to make me play a docile bahu. Even earlier, I never wore heavy silk sarees, tied my hair, or did roles that did not match my sensibilities. The role needs to be good, otherwise there's no challenge on TV today.

Divyanka Tripathi
"My debut show Banoo Main Teri Dulhan had a lot of rona-dhona but the show gave me a much scope to experiment with emotions. I moved on to comedy shows because I did not want to play a typical bahu anymore. And with changing trends, it's high time that I keep on doing challenging roles than stick to those typical sari-cladbahu who is the victim in the family."

Shama Sikandar
"Television has to go beyond regressive roles by making women the protagonists on most shows. It has to go beyond the bahus who wear sarees 24/7 and even go to sleep in the same dress. I will never do such melodramatic roles."

Mauli Ganguli
"I can never do a role that crosses my sensibilities. My debut show (Kaahin Kissii Roz) was about playing a bahu next door, but I'd never do the typical bahu role you see on TV these days. There's a lot to be explored with playing the bahu than just wearing heavy sarees, crying and pleasing people in the family. It's not me, it doesn't complement my personality."

Rajshree Thakur
"Even my earlier show Saat Phere was not a typical saas-bahu show. I'm tired of the continuoussaas-bahu sagas on telly shows for so many years now. I don't see myself doing any such typicalsaas-bahu roles decked with heavy jewellery who continuously cry on screen."