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Aashka Goradia speaks about her role of a bold woman with a high sex drive in Shubh Vivah.
Daily soaps thrive on extra-marital affairs for rating spikes and hence there is no dearth of the 'other' women in serials. So how different is your character in Shubh Vivah?
It is completely different from the 'other' women seen on TV so far. Sarla is quite a bold woman and the character will surprise viewers. I don't think this bolder side of a woman or this kind of an extra-marital affair has been shown on television before.
What's so bold about her?
She has the courage to do things openly without shame, so much so that half the town is aware of it. She is rich and powerful and can buy a man for her happiness. There will be some bold scenes too.
What is this happiness arrangement with Amrit (Eijaz Khan)?
Sarla is not in love with him but wants him to fulfil her physical needs. Currently, the characters are being established and so the relationship.
What makes her so amorous?
As I said, she is a rich and powerful woman who showers her man with gifts and money. She is married and has a family. But her husband works overseas. She has high sex drive and needs someone to satisfy her.
Do you think such a bold character will go down well with GEC viewers, particularly women?
I don't think there should be a problem with that. Happiness arrangements are all over the place in metros, big and smaller cities. Lots of women who are unhappy in their marital lines are getting into such no-strings attached relationships. I think viewers, particularly women, will relate to Sarla. Why do you think negative characters work so well? Most of us have crazy thoughts, which we get to see through actions of negative characters. It is another matter that everything that happens on-screen doesn't happen in real life. But there are lots of Sarla's in this world and audience is mature enough to understand the complexity of character.
Is the character negative?
It is negative but there is a reason behind what she is doing, which will be revealed later in the second part of the story.
Will the happiness arrangement continue after Amrit gets married to Saroj?
It will, or else why would the character be there in the first place?
So it is not a cameo?
No, it is not. It is a crucial part of the story.
How did you take a call on such a bold character?
I love to experiment with different characters. I have played the girl next door, a simple bahu, grey and negative characters. It's the challenge of playing an unconventionally bold woman that attracted me to the role.
In your last show Laagi Tujhse Lagan you played a hardcore negative role. It seems you love playing negative characters'
Not really, but you get to do a lot in negative roles. Kalavati of Tujhse Laagi Lagan was a larger-than-life character and very popular too. She belonged to the underworld, but Sarla is more real, though unconventional.
How has been your journey in serials so far?
It has been great. Kusum was my benchmark and I have continued doing good roles with shows like Mere Apne, Akela, Kahin To Hoga, Saath Phere and Laagi Tujhse Lagan. I do a show or two every year and that's pretty good going. I love my job and don't get bored of work so easily.
Any reason for not being so visible in non-fiction shows?
I have done a few and Khatron Ke Khiladi was the most visible one of them. I did quite well for myself in the show. But the high of doing fiction is quite different.
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