Sudha Chandran Fan Club

Ramola Sikand is the most hated woman on television today. And actress Sudha Chandran has been very convincing as the scheming, socialite, businesswoman and the typical wicked stepmother, who doesn't think twice before attempting to kill her son and daughter-in-law in Balaji Telefilms' late-night thriller Kaahin Kissi Roz (KKR). Every time Ramola Sikand is hatching a plot, an ominous background theme brings shivers down the spine of the viewer. As for Sudha Chandran, long years of patient waiting is finally paying off. KKR on STAR Plus is her first brush with success after a long hiatus and a spate of indifferent roles. The actress, a.k.a. Mayuri of Naache Mayuri spoke to Screen about fame as Ramola Sikand and herself on the sets of Kaahin Kissi Roz

As Ramola Sikand

When I signed KKR, I never imagined that the character of Ramola would create such a furore. Today, this character is being talked about not only for her viciousness, but also for her sarees, finger rings, 'tikka', jewellery as well as her eyelashes. It is the most happening character. Earlier negative characters were not given much importance till Shah Rukh Khan did Darr. People suddenly realised that bad is also important in life. Yet on television, people love to watch the positive characters like Parvati in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. These are household names and are identified with easily. But now, slowly Ramola too has managed to make a place for herself with the viewers. Channels too are very particular about the look of a character these days, as the public relates to them easily.

What I like about Ramola is that there is no shabbiness in her character. She is always elegantly draped in chiffons and crepes and wears exquisite diamond and pearl jewellery. I come from a very middle-class, orthodox, South Indian family. So initially, I thought it would be difficult to play Ramola with conviction. But I am grateful to Homi Wadia who directed the first 10 episodes of the serial; he was instrumental in creating the character as it is today. The credit for Ramola's look goes to Ekta Kapoor and Maasiji (Shobha Kapoor).

Playing Ramola for 20 days of every month, I think I have absorbed so much of her, that my mother and husband constantly remind me not to behave like her at home. Everyone, from the masses to the upper class, discuss Ramola, her style and sophistication. A negative character is usually down-market, but this character has sophistication, dignity and poise and that, I think, is the plus point of the character. I never knew it would turn out to be such a powerful role and would be loved by the masses so greatly.

After a year and a half of telecast of KKR, people have begun to love to hate Ramola. The biggest compliment ever paid to me was from director Ramesh Sippy, who said, "The similar anxiety seen on the faces of people at the entry of Gabbar Singh in Sholay is felt when Ramola Sikand appears on TV. With the music in the background, people know that she is up to something horrible." Today, I am convinced that being good at being bad can help grab the limelight.

On Kaahin Kissi Roz

It is a very popular serial on Star Plus today. As far as believing in my character is concerned, I think, there is a Ramola Sikand inside every human being, who wants to be manipulative and successful. To be successful, one doesn't follow ethics and moral values, but treads on someone else's feet to come up in life. Maybe it is over-magnified on screen, but the fact that this character is universally accepted means that people identify with it easily.

Balaji Telefilms

The credit for the success of Ramola goes to Ekta Kapoor who spotted me in Sattee Shourie's Kaise Kahoon, where I played an uneducated, scheming Muslim woman, and director Homi Wadia who directed the initial episodes of KKR. Thanks to this character, I have gained what I lost as a film artiste. I must also say that Balaji Telefilms has been the boosting factor in my career and has helped me regain my status as an actress. Working with Ekta Kapoor and Balaji Telefilms has been a very good experience and I have no reason to complain as they have been very accommodating with dates and very prompt with their payments, regardless of what is being said about them.

Reactions to Ramola

Till lately I was known as Mayuri of Naache Mayuri, but now people want me to sign autographs as Ramola Sikand. Sudha Chandran is a real-life heroine, who has fought fate and destiny. Today I am successful as a dancer as well as an actress. And it is nice to know that men adore me as Ramola, they like the way I wear my 'tikkas' and outline my lipstick.

The Real Sudha Chandran
"There is a Ramola Sikand inside every human being, who wants to be manipulative and successful"

Off-screen, I am a far cry from Ramola Sikand. My close friend on the sets of KKR is Mouli Ganguly, who is playing my daughter-in-law Shaina with whom I am always daggers-drawn in the serial, but off-screen, we have a special bonding. I am also a daughter who is worried about my mother who is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for a dreaded illness. It was my father who helped me overcome my grief when I was going through a bad phase in life after my accident and he has been very supportive of all my decisions. And Ravi Dang, my husband is the stabilising factor in my life.

The Film Industry

The film industry has not been very kind to me. I made my debut in an autobiographical film Naache Mayuri and created cinematic history by playing a handicapped dancer in the film, a role that instantly made me an icon for all those struggling to survive in the insensitive world of the abled. Pati Parmeshwar and a spate of films, which didn't help me at all, followed this. Though my first film, under the directorial baton of G Vishwanath, was a huge hit, I failed to repeat the success and was reduced to playing 'bhabhi', sister and second lead roles in films.

This offer from Balaji Telefilms to play Ramola Sikand came as a shock to me, as I was made to believe by the film industry that I was meant for emotional and weepy roles. So though I am a good actress, I did films like Shola Aur Shabnam, Raghuvir and Qaid Mein Hain Bulbul, to name a few. I fell victim to one image in films, but television and Ekta Kapoor broke this norm. Today the same film people call me to say that I am a wonderful actress!

Aspirations

After doing weepy roles, people thought, comedy wasn't my cup of tea. But Gautam Adhikari thought otherwise and cast me in Kabhi Idhar Kabhi Udhar with Shekhar Suman, which was a roaring success. I also did Apna Apna Style. I would love to try various shades in a character. And as a character artiste, KKR was the ultimate.

Looking Ahead

I have just signed a mythological film directed by V Menon titled Jai Maa Vaibhavi Laxmi where I play a grey shade for the first time on the big screen. As far as broadening my horizon is concerned, I recently turned producer alongwith my husband Ravi Dang and have made Waqt Ka Dariya for ETV, Urdu. And there are more such plans in the pipeline.

Dancing

With acting taking so much of my time, dancing has definitely taken a back seat. But I still perform whenever I can though not with so much finesse and perfection as the earlier days. Just joined Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa.

More Serials

The success of KKR has not helped me much in getting more offers. Today I am doing Waqt Ka Dariya. In Rakhi Tandon's Heena I play a 'tawaif' from USA. And there is also Alok Dixit's Antaral being telecast on DD. The success of Naache Mayuri then and Kaahin Kissi Roz now are just stepping stones in my career, and today after years of effort, I can proudly claim that I have achieved what many could have only hoped for.

Hope you enjoyed the interview with our Lady SUDHA CHANDRAN

Well known as Ramola Sikand from the television soap Kaahin Kissi Roz, she now dons a new role for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Sudha Chandran, who shot to fame with her true-to-life role in Nache Mayuri, will campaign for the BJP if all goes well. The actor-turned-party member says she genuinely believes the BJP is a party with a difference.

"Since my childhood I always knew that India was a land of scarcity but this has changed ever since the BJP started ruling our country," she says.

A dancer, Sudha lost her leg after an accident in 1981 but fought against all odds to regain her former life, finding glory in the process. With the aid of the Jaipur foot, she made it big in Nache Mayuri and undeterred, began another part of her life.

"The BJP has a positive outlook towards the country and that is my philosophy towards life. I never give up," she told Chief Correspondent Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Why did you join the BJP?

My life ideology is very similar to the party's ideology. In the last five years they had a goal and they achieved it. Similarly, after I met with an accident and lost my leg, I too set a goal for myself and achieved it. Besides that, I felt there is no scarcity in India today.

I have lived in this country since my birth. If you recall India always was a land of scarcity. Yeh nahi hai who nahi hai, line sab jagah lagi hai. Ration nahi hai, light nahi hai poverty hai. There were so many things like this but in the last five years everything has disappeared. There is no scarcity in the country and everything is available.

I feel honoured to be in this party, especially because I really admire Vajpayeeji. He has a vision like no other person in this country.

Don't you feel the feel good factor is only meant for the privileged?

Not really. You see Venkaiahji (BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu) said even his carpenter has a cell phone. He observed that when the carpenter came to repair a chair at his home. I don't think a carpenter is from the middle or upper middle class.

Today, my spot boy, makeup man, everyone around me has a cell phone. You demand a telephone and it is at your doorstep. You call for a car loan, it is at your doorstep, so everything is available to you in India today.

I remember my father used to beg for a loan to buy a house. He had to beg the banks for a loan. Today this has changed and banks are approaching you. Life has certainly become better now in India. So definitely there is a feel good factor.

You are talking about the cities, but what about the villages? Do you think there has been a change there? Is the feel good factor catching up there too?

I come from Kerala and there too there is a feel good factor. This is true for all of south India, which I know well. Mumbai represents all classes and everyone is happy here today. A movement has begun because of the BJP and they did all this in five years' time. Therefore, I feel they should be given more time to rule our country.

Ramola Sikand, the role you are currently known for on television, is a vamp.

What I play is my bread and butter. But in politics I will play a different role. People obviously don't relate me to my character in the serial. They see me as Sudha Chandran. My screen presence is important because accessibility to masses is easy then.

You mentioned you would like to do a lot for disabled people in our country after joining the BJP.

This is my purpose to join politics. I am not here to make it big. I don't know whether I will be successful but I want to highlight this issue. There are 60 million disabled people in our country. This is a sizeable population in our country. I know their pain and don't think anyone will know their pain better (than me).

I say so because I have gone through the same thing. I have joined the BJP to help disabled people.

How will the BJP help you in your mission?

Vajpayeeji set up a one-man commission to handle the affairs for handicapped people in his tenure. I would like to develop my work on the same lines. I acted in Nache Mayuri;to prove that I can do as well as any normal person. It took me another 20 years to prove myself as an actress.

When I joined the BJP a blind man called me and said, 'Though I cannot see you I feel you are doing a great thing for handicapped people. He further said, 'Umeed ki kiran kahin se to jaagi hai' (A ray of hope has emerged from somewhere).That is what I am looking for.

If you join a political party and get a platform then India won't have only one Sudha Chandran but many other Sudha Chandrans. After all, disabled people have a sixth sense too. We need to tap it. They will be able to do wonders because I have broken all the myths about the disabled after my accident.

Do you believe in the construction of a Ram Mandir at the place where the Babri Masjid once stood in Ayodhya?

I don't believe in commenting on all these things. I am too small fry. I have just put my tiny step in politics. I only need guidance from veterans like Venkaiahji and Vajpayeeji. My only concern is about handicapped people in this country. I have set an example from my life and now I need the infrastructure to help others.

What about campaigning?

I have just joined the party. The party will decide what I must do for them. I don't know where to campaign and what to do in life. I am not here to contest elections. I only want to highlight to the people what this government can offer to the citizens of this country.

You think the Congress can't do that?

I believe in the BJP's positive attitude, therefore I am in this party.

Do you think Sonia's foreign origin is a problem to you?

I don't want to comment on this issue. I told you I am in politics because I want to do something for disabled people in our country.

India is divided into two sectors -- the North/Eastern sector is doing badly while Western/Southern India is doing well. Don't you feel so?

That is what I am saying. In five years they cannot do miracles. When I wanted to play Ramola people said I couldn't do it because I could only do emotional roles. But Ektaa Kapoor gave me a break and I proved myself in the role of Ramola. She gave me scope.

So that is what I am saying -- give another chance to the BJP and they will change things in this country.

Don't you think Mr Vajpayee's position on Pakistan is very inconsistent? He talks of war and then suddenly goes for this peace initiative?

Forget the past. Look at this way. At the end of the day he has extended a hand of friendship. He is looking forward for friendship and peace so you must give credit to him.

There are reports that there is growth in unemployment in the country.

No, I don't agree. It was published in the London papers that India has 1.7 million (new) jobs today. So there is no unemployment.

But that is in the Business Process Outsourcing sector.

So that means there are employment opportunities in our country. You cannot say there is unemployment in the country. BJP President Venkaiah Naidu presented a database to the media stating there are ample job opportunities in the country. So it is wrong to say there is jobless growth in India.

Recently there was a vacancy for 750 policemen in Mumbai, 15,000 people applied for the job. Don't you feel that this figure justifies the fact that there are many jobless people in the country?

Jobs are being created. Give the BJP breathing space. You gave your vote to one party for the last 50 years so give the BJP another chance.

Do you think your popularity can translate into votes for the BJP?

I am working towards it. We celebrities are human beings at the end of the day. We are doing it for the BJP as citizens of this country. Celebrity status is only to get the audience but the final vote depends on people. But as citizens of this country we have the right to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Vajpayee.

You gave the example of Mr Naidu's carpenter using a cell phone. Do you have any more examples?

My bai[maid] calls from her cellphone when she is working in the neighbour's house and asks whether she can come to work or not. This is a major change in India. You look at slums -- they have almost been eradicated in Mumbai. They have washing machines, colour televisions, refrigerators. They are blessed with everything.

Won't you agree that the standard of living is low?

You see it is progressing with time. It is not stagnant. There is development. A miracle will not happen in five years.

Will you stop shooting during the election campaign?

I have my professional commitments and political commitments. Acting is my bread and butter. Let the high command tell me what they want me to do, then I will see what I can do for them.

Hope u enjoyed this 2!!!

Thanks for opening this thread 😃

I love Sudha for her determination to overcome the odds 👏 👏