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Making a historical drama is a high risk venture. On the one hand are our historians and academics who want accuracy in every detail shown, and on the other hand we have the common man who is impatient of depth and wants constant drama. Under the circumstances the undoubted success of "Jodha Akbar" on Zee TV is highly laudable. The show has got high TRP ratings and has a mix of history and entertainment. It has been able to strike the right chord with the audiences. Here, Paridhi Sharma, lead actress of the show, talks about playing Jodha in the serial.
What was the research you did for enacting the part of Jodha?
First of all I would like to say that acting is my passion. After completing my MBA from Pune I came down to Mumbai two years back. I was selected for the show by Ekta Kapoor herself. I read some history books and even watched Aishwarya Rai's film "Jodha Akbar" to learn more about my character. I even learnt horse riding and sword fighting and to improve my Hindi a bit more I read some writers like those of Premchand and Shivraj Sawant. I also read the book "The Mughals" by Rutherford.
How difficult it is to be true to history in a serial like "Jodha Akbar" which essentially aims to entertain the viewers?
This is up to the writers of the show, and my job basically is to portray the character. People have different perceptions. Here what we are showing is not complete history because our main aim is to entertain the audience, so we have added some drama to history. I think we are quite successful in that. Here I would like to add that now onwards the audience will get to see a softer and romantic Jodha.
Millions of people watch "Jodha Akbar" but Do you watch your own show, or for that matter television at all?
I have to thank the audience who made this show so successful, giving the show high TRP ratings. As far as I am concerned I am very much busy with the shootings and hardly find time to watch television, but yes, I do watch "Jodha Akbar" and that too in the repeat telecast only to pinpoint my mistakes if there are any.
How has the success of Jodha Akbar changed your life?
To be linked with our successful show makes me feel good. My fan base is growing with each passing day. Whenever I get a chance to go out, people ask me for autographs and photographs and they go on to the extent of comparing me to the great Aishwarya Rai which makes me feel proud.
What after "Jodha Akbar"?
I have been getting offers from other channels and Bollywood as well, but given the situation I do not have time even to think about them. The shooting of the show keeps us busy. I will think about it once the show is over.
Keywords: Paridhi Sharma, Jodha Akbar, Ekta Kapoor, The Mughals
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