'I was nervous on the first day '

How does it feel to make a comeback after five years?
It feels great. Obviously I was nervous on the first day of the shoot (laughs). I hadn't felt like this even on the first day that I had to face the camera twenty years back when I started out. Then it was the feeling that at the most I will be rejected if I'm not found good enough. Today I have a reputation to protect (laughs).

What was hubby Ashutosh Rana's reaction to your comeback?
He has been the strong motivating factor for my comeback. He was very keen that I should start working again.

What prompted you to make a comeback with Jeete Hain Jiske Liye?
Earlier I did get offers for television shows but I was reluctant to take them up as I felt that my kids were too young. Now they're four and two. So I feel that I can start working again. I was waiting for something really good to come my way. Anjali's role was really a dream role for me. It was a great challenge to play her. Now that I'm a mother, I identify with her a lot. I also liked the idea of working with Tony and Deeya Singh as they always come up with something different. This is also my first time with Sony. So I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. I couldn't have asked for a better role, better Channel and better directors (smiles).

A little about Jeete Hain Jiske Liye...
I'm playing Anjali. She's an orphan so values family values. She falls in love with a business tycoon. Of course, his family is not very happy with this but she tries her best to bring the family together. She wants to have kids but is unable to conceive for a long time. Finally she has a kid but a traumatic situation in her life takes her away from her family and kid. She struggles to regain her respect and get back her kid. If I were offered this role earlier, I would have still played it the same way. But today, being a mother myself, I can add certain nuances to her character.
What did you do in these five years that you were away?
I spent all my time with my kids. I was also busy writing a film script that I want to direct some day. It's a psychological thriller and also deals with human relationships. I also watched a lot of television.

Any particular shows that you enjoyed?
Jassi ..., Indian Idol, and Astitva.

Do you have the technical know how to direct a film?
I came into the industry with a view of becoming a director. I assisted Vijaya Mehta and she suggested that I also act while I was assisting her. That's how I got into acting. I've always had a keen eye for shot taking and the visuals even while I was acting and interacting a lot with the assistant directors on the sets. So I'll surely direct when I have the time. For the time being, I'll put it on the backburner as I'm busy shooting almost twelve hours everyday for this show. Gradually this tight schedule should become easy but the initial stages require that sort of commitment.

How do you manage your young kids with such a heavy schedule?
My mother comes over and stays with us. So that's a great help. I also have a nice maid who takes good care of the kids when I'm away. Whenever I'm free on the sets, I touch base with my kids. We also have a nursery on the sets so my kids come to the sets very often. So I manage.

Will you do films now?
There's nothing like not doing a film just because I'm doing television. I did Hum Aapke Hain Kaun even while I was doing television then. But right now, I won't be able to take on anything new since I'm very busy with the show. I'd even turned down Antakshari as I'd already accepted
Jeete Hain Jiske Liye.