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From ba to babe will Smriti be accepted?
While most actors are hopeful of playing younger roles even after sporting grey hair onscreen, producers think otherwise, finds Deepali Dhingra
If there is one thing that actors in television serials fear these days, it is the idea of a generation leap. Along with applying whitener in their hair and putting wrinkles on their face and appearing in front of the audience, there is a lurking apprehension that they might not be approached for younger roles again. But are their fears for real?
"To some extent, yes," says director Ajai Sinha, whose serial Astitva saw Niki Aneja and Varun Badola play older characters as the serial neared its end. "Actors do fear not being approached for younger roles after they have been seen playing older characters but I believe that it is the actor's capacity that should matter. Producers and directors have to change their mindset," he says. Agrees producer Manish Goswami, "If an older character becomes popular with the audience, then it gets fixed in their mind. When we decide to cast them, then there is definitely an apprehension in our minds if the audience will accept them in a younger role again," he says.
Juhi Parmar, who's supposed to be a mother of a married man in Kumkum on Star Plus, but whose hair is still as black as she was when she was 20, put her foot down when the production house asked her to apply whitener to her hair. "Thankfully, they understood. I think it looks forced and overdone if we're made to look old. I feel that old age can be shown through a change in body language as well," she defends her decision. But Juhi admits, that behind this refusal to look old, is the fear that they will be typecast in the older role category. "When I'm 45, I will anyways get those roles. At the moment, I would like to play my age and that's the reason, I need to look my age on TV," she adds.
However, there are some who have had no qualms about donning 'older' gear. Smriti Iraani, the much loved Tulsi of Star Plus' Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi might have aged to thrice her real age on the serial, but she has recently signed on a new show where she will play a 27-year-old. Was Smriti ever apprehensive about the old look? "There were times when I used to ask my make-up man to add more wrinkles to my face, so that should answer your question," she laughs.
Actor Varun Badola says that there was no apprehension on his part to grey in Astitva as it went with the progression of the story. But did he face any problem getting roles which did not ask him to apply whitener? "Even before Astitva ended, I was offered Ek Chaabi Pados Mein and Arranged Marriage, where I play my age." he clarifies. Says producer Shrishti Arya, "I think producers need to develop the right attitude and learn to have their own vision of an actor."
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