sweetie -----

Rakhi changes lanes

Unhappy being a producer, Sweetie of Hum Paanch returns to acting

Sapana Patil

Does your decision to go back to acting have anything to do with your last production, Pyar Zindagi Hai on Zee TV, not doing well?
No, that's not the reason. Frankly, it was too much of a hassle. Actors would come to me with trivial problems like the tea on the sets was not good enough or the blouse did not have a zip. These trivial matters took too much of my time which consequently led to my ignoring the creative aspects of the serial. I have hence decided not to continue with production. I just want to act; that too in a serial of a production house other than mine. If it's my production house, then I invariably will get involved in the production aspects. So, from now on my husband will take care of production.


So what are your future projects?
Like I said, I want to act; and give 100 per cent concentration to it. I am looking for meaningful roles — negative, comedy or a blend of both. There is a lot to do and I am meeting television and film producers for the same.


After you turned producer, your presence on television was less felt. Was this a conscious decision?
Actors who turn producers are not offered roles. Once I took up production, people assumed that I had given up acting. I got a raw deal for getting into production. It was a big loss for me.


How come Ekta Kapoor did not offer you any roles in her saas-bahu serials?
Ekta knows which actor fits which character. So why just saas-bahu serials, I am open to working in any good serial.


How do you feel about Hum Paanch going off air because of an insipid second run?
It is indeed sad that the show is going off air. I don't know what to say. The serial made my character Sweetie a rage. But certain things are not in my hands. The serial that did so well in the first season couldn't live upto expectations in the second season.

• When I was a producer, actors would come to me with trivial problems like the tea on the sets was not good enough or the blouse did not have a zip — Rakhi Tandon