Vamps sting with a difference

Just when telly soaps seemed to be saturated with flashy, over the top, vampish characters namely, Komalika, Ramola Sikand, Pallavi ….there seems to be a rising crop of hatke evil ladies who slowly but surely are on their way to redefine the 'vamps of the small screen'.

They have tried to strip away the layers of artificiality - from the garish greasepaint, from hamming their acerbic lines, from donning retina-pinching outfits and from air talking!

We are talking about the new age vamps - Sindoora of Banu Main Teri Dulhan, Maya of Karam Apna Apna, Kaveri of Saat Phere, Barnali of Kasamh Se and Tulika of Ek Ladki Anjaani Si.

Tellychakkar.com finds out from these oh-so-cool-and-evil vamps about the transition and difference between the previous and current genre of scheming ladies of the tube.

Aanchal Dwivedi- The current lot of vamps is smarter in terms of looks and attitude, and that is very much in demand. They dress very well and are realistic. Previously characters like that of Komalika were out and out negative. In comparison, my character of Kaveri in Saat Phere is quite human. To cite an incident, when in a recent episode my husband Samar became blind, Kaveri was hurt as any normal wife would be. Sometimes when I read the script I laugh thinking, 'Oh I have to be this evil.' I can easily emotionally disconnect from Kaveri post the shoot as I don't carry the character outside sets.

Geetanjali Tikekar- My character Maya in Karam Apna Apna has a humorous edge to her mannerisms. She has no good designs on her, is insecure and is an attention seeker like a page three butterfly. But she is not out to kill someone which Apo*na (my character in Kassauti Zindagi Kay) was capable of. Apo*na had no limits but Maya is quite real. Today's vamps are not loud and don't wear excessive make up. During the initial days, when I essayed Apo*na, I used to be disturbed at times, but now after four years of working I can comfortably switch off.

Kamya Punjabi- Till date I have mostly played negative roles. Right now I have Woh Rehne Wali Mahlon Ki as well as Banu Main Teri Dulhan in my kitty where I spread viciousness. Talking about the vamp's look, yes it does matter. Like in Dulhan my look is simple and subtle. My character Sindoora wears cotton saris, a nose ring and contact lenses. Also in Woh Rehne Wali…I wear chiffon saris and simple blouses sans contact lenses. Vamps of current times are negative as before but convincing at the same time. They are the hero from episode one. A heroine may get married four times but a vamp focuses only on the hero! Once the shoot is over , sometimes I do tend to remain in the character. At times my pals and co-stars have to come forward to tell me to better be normal!

Arzoo Govitrikar- Today's vamps are a little more subtle, do less natak and less make up. They are more realistic than before as the writer and director gives them strong reasons to behave the way they do. Vamps add more glam quotient to serials compared to the leading ladies. I don't carry my negative characters home, as I'm just acting in front of the camera. But, I believe that the common man does feel that in real life we are as bad as our characters on screen.

Nigaar Z. Khan- The previous vamps used to be little over the top in everything. My characters in India Calling and Kasamh Se are not born evil. I feel one need not look vicious to act vicious. The vamp of today is realistic. I don't put any extra bindis or fully loaded lipstick. I make the character look good and sexy and not gaudy. Once the director says cut I am Nigaar Z. khan.