'The role in pivotal' - Rati on Kaajjal

Rati Agnihotri accepts her first role on television

Rati Agnihotri is enthusiastic about her first role on television. She says, "This has been in the pipeline for a long time. The pivotal role made me take the big leap. I play the role of a matriarch of a family in 'Kaajjal' (Sony). It is a very strong character whose first priority is the well being of her family."

What was it about a daily serial that she was uncomfortable with? "I was approached by the production house almost a year back but I was not sure about being part of a daily television serial. I was mainly apprehensive about the long schedules. So I kept it on hold till I was fully confident of handling it. I agreed after sorting out my style of working with the production house."

Talking of the differences between working in films and television, she says, "It has just been two days that I have shot for this serial and there is a marked difference in both mediums. I find the acting also much different in television. There are many more master shots taken for TV, mainly for promos. The treatment from a director's point of view is also different here. I am bound to them for fifteen days in a month. It is hectic shooting for ten hours at a stretch. But I am just concentrating on my role and am focussed on doing a good job."

On her interaction with co-stars Surveen Chawla and Apoorva Agnihotri, she says, "I found them very dedicated and it was comfortable working with them. I have yet to meet the rest of the cast."

Just returned from a shoot in Thailand, Rati says she caught up with 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' (Sony) contestant Mona Singh on all the happenings on the show.

"I would love to go on the sets to cheer the remaining contestants, especially for the vote out episode. I feel Mona has an edge because she is a non-dancer and she is getting better with each passing day. Shveta (Salve) is brilliant and gives a flawless performance. I had no expectation of wearing the 'Jhalak..' crown, so feel no remorse at being ousted out. I am gutsy and enjoyed the experience of learning to dance. I am not a trained dancer and have earlier only run around trees or my co-stars in my films," smiles Rati.