Is real life different froim reel?
29 May, 2007 l 0034 hrs ISTlPriyanka Tiwari/TIMES NEWS NETWORK
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Stuck with the onscreen personas that make them so popular with the audience, LT wonders how stars struggle to keep their reel identity separate from their real selves
Tulsi, Parvati, Prerna, Kum Kum and Saloni might just be names of characters, but more than that they are the identity of actors portraying them on screen. Unfortunately, in the race to top the TRPs, the actors' individual identities are often sacrificed. As Smriti Irani better known as Tulsi plans to quit Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi, one wonders if she'll feel lost without the 'Virani' tag? So is it the actor or the character that makes these daily soaps a hit among masses?
Strong roles make a strong impact
According to Mona Singh who's still referred to as 'Jassi' even though her show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin was taken off air long ago, the impact of a character depends on how it is presented. "A strong role is bound to have a strong impact, but the performance should do justice to the role," says Mona. Agrees actor Ronit Roy, "The character of an actor becomes more powerful than his/her own identity only if it's scripted impressively. The viewers watch shows to see these characters and the story of their lives."
Second identity is a challenge
If actor Rajshri Thakur, alias Saloni of Saat Phere, is to be believed, it is a challenge for an actor to carve a nich with his/her self on screen. "It is tough to be accepted and appreciated by one's screen name," say Rajshri, who takes pride in being referred to as Saloni. "As Saloni, I've made my debut on the small screen and it gives me immense joy to have people call me by this name. It just reflects the acceptance that the character is receiving. People might just be appreciating Saloni, but its a personal triumph for me because there can't be a character without an actor," she adds. But Singh differs, "When people call me Jassi, it shows their feelings for her. But, as an actor, my job isn't done. I will prove my mettle as an actor when I do justice to different kinds of roles because of which post-Jassi, I'm still waiting for another challenging role."
Ronit Roy, who has been accepted as Mihir, Mr Bajaj and now Aparajit, seconds the opinion: "The success of a single character isn't my success. As an actor, my job is to perform all my roles with perfection, if I'm able to do that, then I am successful."
Powerful characters are an opportunity
Strong characters catapult the career graph of an actor, feels actor Gaurav Khanna, better known as Sharman of Kum Kum. "It's a golden opportunity for an actor. As a performer I feel that characters, not actors, sell. People watch daily soaps to see Tulsi, Prerna, Kum Kum, Parvati, Mihir, Bajaj or Sharman, not their real selves. If people call me Sharman, I attribute my success to the production house that offered me that role," says Gaurav.
Prachi Desai, alias Bani of Kasam Se, shares a similar opinion: "I owe my success to the character Bani; it has provided me an identity among other leading ladies on television. Good characters help in building a good career graph. When a character becomes very popular, the expectations from the actor increase, but it is not necessary that every character an actor plays gets as tremendous a response. The challenge for an actor is to make an ordinary character extraordinary
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/City_Supplements/L ucknow_Times/Is_real_life_different_froim_reel/articleshow/2 081224.cms
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