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Q You have recently made a foray into television production. Was it a conscious decision to get into production or did it just happen?
It is a conscious decision. Ever since I started my career in acting and learnt about production while doing Kyunki the thought of starting my production company was always at the back of my mind. I was always looking forward to my personal growth and as an actor production was the logical choice to take my areer forward.
Q Being an actor do you find production a difficult job?
I find it quite easy. Production is all about planning, people management and juggling your time between different things you do. Q You had intended to break your Tulsi image with Uma of Thodi Si Zameen. How far have you succeeded?
I don't think I am stuck in Tulsi's image though there is identification with the character when people see me in Kyunki. I came out of the image about two years back because I have a life outside television. I do theatre, I am into politics, social work as well as production and even in smaller towns people know me as Smriti. Q What are the benefits of playing Uma and producing Thodi Si Zameen?
Though both Thodi Si and Kyunki are aired on the same channel people have accepted and appreciated Uma's character. They relate to her because Uma is a strong and contemporary woman and Thodi Si is today's story. It has a saas, bahu, devar and pati but the relationships and equations they share are absolutely different. In fact, the whole story telling format and making is different. The Sunday 10 pm on Star Plus was a dead slot and Thodi Si has revived it. What I have also gained from the show is acceptability as an actor and producer of quality software. Q What's your forthcoming show Viruddh all about?
It's a family saga of a different kind. You will see a different kind of treatment in Viruddh. At this point of time all I can say is that it's about father-daughter relationship. The daughter is a confident woman who sacrifices a lot for her family which is the epicentre of her life. But to what extent a person can go for the sake of his or her family and what one achieves in the end is the main crux of the story. Q Are you playing a pivotal role in Viruddh?
Of course. All characters are pivotal to the story. It's a story of people. Even in Thodi Si all characters are pivotal characters. Q What made you approach Sony for Viruddh? There is a lot of speculation in the industry about you making a show for Sony.
Why should people speculate? As a producer I have every right to approach any channel of my choice. My next show is for Zee. Q How many shows are you planning at the moment?
We are working on seven serials and one after the other all of them will come on air in 2007 on different channels. Q Aren't you looking at reality TV?
Of course I am. I can't ignore that genre. I have a division that's exploring the idea of making reality shows though it will take some time. Q Has your relationship changed in anyway with Ekta Kapoor? She is quite cut up with Sony because of Sandip Sikcand.
Why should my relationship with Ekta get affected just because I am making a serial for Sony? I am a thorough professional and so is she. As an individual and professional I have every right to do what I want. So I don't see any reason as to why people should needlessly speculate. Ekta and I share a great rapport | 
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