Krish started calling me mamma: Neha

Mamta, the Zee TV Daily is a first time attempt (on Indian television) at telling the story of an unwed surrogate mother. And the bold effort has paid off. The show has managed to get exceptionally good ratings in spite of it not being a prime time drama. Who better to discuss the subject than the soul of Mamta, the protagonist playing the title role, Neha Mehta!

"It's mainly the story which is working.There are so many new twist-n-turns in the story that it is utterly unpredictable. When the episode freezes at a certain point you never know what's going to happen next. Which is why, I guess, it has managed to strike a chord with the audience," says Neha.

Neha, a small town girl from an armed forces background had started out with serials like Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and Ayushmaan where she was playing a bubbly, college going girl. How different is this unconventional character of an unwed mother? "I liked the character because it had a lot of shades to it. It's the story of an 18-19-year-old girl who is brought up in a small town but takes up this proposal of being a surrogate mum because she wants money for her father's treatment.

And then there is a twist in the tale when the father dies and she is asked to abort the child, as she won't require the money anymore. But she refuses and decides to have the baby for the childless couple. And then, when the child is born she is told that it was stillborn. It's much later that she comes to know that it was a lie. Things take a turn thereafter," Neha relives the entire story.

"It's basically her journey and how she manages to survive in the big bad city. Her trials and tribulations as she aspires to keep the values her father imbibed in her intact and how she tries to overcome all hardship. So the character has a lot for me to do," explains Neha.
The child who plays Neha's son is said to be a very adorable moppet. Has she become very close, very motherly to him in real life as well?

"Oh yes, very much. The kid Krishna, whom we all call 'Krish'; is a very adorable child. He actually has started calling me mamma. The moment I see him on the set he runs to me, saying mamma. It's all really very cute. I am very close to him and yes he is my relief factor. He is one of the cutest kids I have come across," reveals a smiling Neha.
And what about the rapport the people share on the sets?

"Oh it's amazing. I gel very well with my co-stars and why only co-stars, I share a very good rapport with everyone in the unit. All of us work like a family and there is not a single shred of jittery nerves or tension anywhere. Its all very relaxed," she calmly replies.
With the cool work environment, looks like Mamta has a lot more to offer in the days to come!

"Oh yes, there are another lot of twists and turns waiting to unfold. It's all very hard to guess what happens next. As an actor on the show, I myself tried to guess what would happen after this, but failed miserably. So there is lot in store for the audience. One angle of the show might open up in the next couple of episodes but then there is another to follow. And it's all very sensible - there is no crap or repetitive things involved. This is how the show holds its own against all rivals," Neha gives a confident assurance. And what about her future plans?

"I can't plan anything right away, because 30 days are allotted to Mamta which doesn't leave me with anytime to plan for the future. But yes, when this serial gets over, I will take a call. I will think what best to do next," shares the pretty actress. And it seems Neha will take a very wise decision in the upcoming days too. After all, the small town girl who never thought about acting and who has been in Mumbai for only two and half years; has managed to bag diverse roles in soaps like Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, Ayushmaan and Mamta.

"Yes in Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, I did something very different from what I did in Ayushmaan, the character of a teenage bubbly, vivacious young doctor. And In Mamta again, I changed tremendously. Yes, I am happy, as I am not being the sissy baby or doing the poor thing act, which can get monotonous very soon. I like playing strong characters with a difference," she states clearly.

Well that's called confidence, which has helped Neha pull off Mamta very convincingly. For now, it's Mamta. But it's for sure that there will be many more such acts in the days to come from the confident young actress.