Shweta's interview- It's my life!

'It's my life'

She may play a sweet, sacrificing Prerna on screen, but in real life, Shweta Tiwari does not like interference in her life, learns Seema Sinha

She was being noticed on stage after her performances in plays like Khoobsoorat Bahu, Kiraayedaar and Gaz Foot Inch. Then television happened. And Shweta Tiwari's theatre skills were soon forgotten. What she is known for now are serials like Rishtey, Aane Wala Pal and Daddy Samjha Karo, and of course, Kasauti Zindagi Kay, Karam, Kaleerein and Kahin Kissi Roz — the last four being from the stable of Balaji Telefilms.

Of course, it is as Prerna Sharma in Kasauti that Shweta has earned an impressive fan following. After doing a negative role in Karam, Shweta effortlessly switched on to playing a simple girl with simple dreams in Kasauti….. Drawing analogies with her famous on-screen role, she says, "Just like Prerna (of the earlier episodes), I am also naughty and love to laugh. I too tell lies sometimes. But the Prerna of today believes in sacrificing and making the people she loves, happy. That brings her happiness."

Playing this character for over a year has brought in a considerable amount of maturity in her, she says: "I sometimes feel as if I've lost my childhood somewhere in the process of portraying Prerna. I was extremely naughty when the serial began last year. I was 21 then. Now I have become more serious, but I'm enjoying myself anyway."

Though born and brought up in the Mazagon area of South Mumbai, Shweta hails from Allahabad. Initially she wanted to become a dancer and dreamt that people would take her name with as much respect and awe as they do while talking of Helen, but destiny had other plans. She got noticed at a dance competition and was offered a role in the play Khoobsoorat Bahu after which there was no looking back. Shweta claims that she has declined a couple of film offers, including one from the Mukta Arts as she'd have to leave Kasautii… to accommodate the others. "Even if I ditch television people and work in films, what is the guarantee that it'd click? I want to complete my television career and then move on to movies. And quite a few film actors are now getting into television anyway,'' she reasons.