Resorting to a leap in to the future might have proved a boon for declining TRPs, but hitList finds out how our telly stars are basking under the sunshine of their newfound status. Or not.
Sudha Shivpuri
Plays the adorable matriarch Amba or Ba in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
Real age and status: 67, married and mother of a daughter and son.
Reel age and status: 86, widow with one daughter and three sons.
What she says: I definitely can't pass it off as an easy task. I literally went on a spree of visiting these couple of temples to observe the elderly Gujarati women and gradually pick and choose what I feel my character needs.
Dolly Sohi
Plays the bubbly and forgetful Ammu in Bhabhi.
Real Age and status: 29, married
Reel Age and status: 40, married and mother of two sons.
What she says: The character I play in Bhabhi is much more mature and elderly than my real self. Getting my motherly act right has become a daily routine, although I falter at times. And trust me it's so funny.
Smriti Z Irani
Plays the ideal saas (and bahu) Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
Real age and status: In her 30s, married and mother of two daughters and one son.
Reel age and status: 50, married and mother of one daughter and three sons.
What she says: It's just another hurdle for an actor. If you can master your craft then it's the best opportunity to show case your talent and skills.
Shweta Tiwari
Plays the dignified, woman of substance Prerna in Kasautii Zindagii Kay.
Real age and status: 25, married and mother of one daughter.
Reel age and status: 45, married and mother of two daughters and a son.
What she says: I don't have to make any special efforts as such to execute my character of an elderly woman. My viewers are tuned to the fact that Prerna has just evolved with the passage of time. I just have to don sarees and deliver more mature dialogues.
Urvashi Dholakia
Plays the conniving Kamolika in Kasautii Zindagii Kay.
Real age and status: 27, married and mother of twin sons.
Reel age and status: 48, married and mother of a son.
What she says: There's nothing really to cope with as long as your image does not undergo any drastic change. Frankly, for me there's not even an inch of a difference except the fact that the mannerisms have undergone a little change here and there.
Shilpa Sakhlani Agnihotri
Plays the protagonist in Kkusum.
Real Age and status: 22, married.
Reel Age and status: 45, married and mother of a daughter.
What she says: It's really not that difficult to get into the shoes of a character much older than your own age. You just need to get a hold on yourself and exercise restraint right from the word go and then you can actually portray what you are expected to.
Poonam Narula Goyal
Plays Mahi, mother to Kali in Kkusum.
Real Age and status: 28, married and mother of a son.
Reel Age and status: 45, married and mother of a daughter.
What she says: Obviously, the dialogue delivery and body language is much more controlled. Even the pace of my walk had to calm down a lot. But you know what, at the end of the day it gives me a real kick when I can do these diverse roles with such ease.
Nicky Aneja
Plays the perfect doc Simran in Astitva — Ek Prem Kahani.
Real Age and status: 32, married.
Reel Age and status: 45, married and mother of two daughters.
What she says: It has been a challenge for me right from the outset. I was already playing this 35-year-old woman and with the leap happening I was having butterflies in my stomach as far as getting the right body language was concerned.
Sakshi Tanwar
Plays the iconic crisis-managing bahu Parvati in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii.
Real age and status: Early 30s, single.
Reel age and status: 50, married and mother of a daughter.
What her on screen ma-in-law says: She has done justice to her character.
Narayani Shastri
Plays the affectionate homemaker Rimjhim in Piya Ka Ghar.
Real Age and status: 27, single.
Reel Age and status: 45, married and mother of one daughter.
What she says: Actually, the age difference is not at all a problem. All you need to do as an actor is employ your observation skills to get a hang of the mannerisms that naturally comes to elderly people. As long as you can do that you are a hit.
Divya Seth
Makes a come back as the firm Priamvada in Sarrkkar.
Real Age and status: 39, married and mother of a daughter.
Reel Age and status: 60, married and mother of one daughter and two sons.
What she says: Initially, it was a vanity issue playing a 60-year-old mother to people of my own age. But once I could come to terms with the fact it's no longer a big deal. After all it's a part of our trade and you get tuned to it.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
