SHWETA TIWARI

SHWETA TIWARI
Prerna Bajaj of Kasautii Zindagii Kay

Shweta Tiwari is a very humble and homely person. She says after all her gruelling shoots and a little daughter, she has little time for anything else.

Wanted to be a dancer : "I was very keen to take up dancing as a profession but ended up becoming an actor. I was involved in theatre and did serials like Rishtey, Aane Wala Pal and Daddy Samjha Karo , besides others. Ekta Kapoor noticed me and offered me the role of Prerna for Kasautii. .. for Star Plus.... I was simply delighted. The character was a confident and strong woman, and I felt a bit hesitant on whether I would do justice to the role, but Ekta said: 'Only you can do this role.' As for dance, I never miss an opportunity to perform in functions."

Coping with two names : "Earlier people recognised me more as Prerna, but now I'm known more as Shweta. Thanks to the media exposure and other serials, people looked beyond the character 'Prerna'."

Life after success : "I can't identify much with Prerna. I don't think I can make the sacrifices Prerna's made. Although, I do try to be a good mother and an honest wife like her. Going out has become very difficult, as people instantly recognise me. I have to be careful about what I wear now. I am very comfortable in jeans but I dare not wear it out in public. Once, I shot for a video where I wore track pants, and a person pulled his car near mine at a signal and began to scream at me. "How could you wear such clothes, because of you, my daughter switched to wearing traditional Indian clothes." I was stunned but that also made me realise how I need to be responsible to my audience who have made me."

On daughter: "My daughter, Palak, is five now, and resists my going out with her. She often tells me, 'Mamma you don't come along with us or else we'll get mobbed.' At home I dedicate all my time to her. I go to work only after my daughter goes to school and try to come home before she goes to bed."

For family, its Shweta : "I have been married to Raja Choudhary for six years. He trusts me and is very cooperative, especially when I work for almost 16-17 hours sometimes. I don't go to social gatherings without him. At home too, nobody treats me like a star. My parents and grandfather always said, 'I'm their lucky child.' Even now, I'm often forced to attend social family functions by my mom even if I try to reason that my presence will only ruin the occasion. She says, 'That doesn't mean you cut yourself off, please be there.' And, I just follow her orders (laughs)."

Homely person : "On my off days you'll find me tidying my house, changing curtains. I love just lie down on the bed, watch movies and relax."