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Prachi Shah is a familiar face on the small screen with shows like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Piya Ka Ghar. Prachi is also an exponent of Kathak and confesses that dancing will always remain her first love. Find out more in this chat with the pretty actress.
Although you are a popular television actress, it is known that you are an accomplished dancer.
Yes, dancing is my passion in my life. I started dancing at the age of four. It started off as a very casual thing. My dad and I were walking down a street where we saw a board put up announcing dancing classes. We walked in and enrolled and then there was never looking back. Initially I just went along because other kids were in it too, but as I learned more I got really interested..Now dancing is my life. What is your specialization?
I have learned Kathak-Jaipur Gharana from Guru Ganesh Hiralal. My first stage performance was on Doordarshan. There used to be a programme called Kill Bill on DD long time ago, that was very popular. Our group performed for that show. I was still very small. That was followed by a performance at Tejpal auditorium and then came a long series of performances. Soon dance became like a second nature to me and I realized that I was truly good at it. When did you first realise that this could become a full time career?
I started learning singing and also the sitar in school. At an all India talent competition, I entered for all three and came first in dance and sitar and grabbed the second prize for singing. I think it was around that time that I realized that I should take up Kathak professionally. You know, my dad has always extolled, that if you are going to take up something, make sure you give it your best. He was adamant that I should not do anything haphazardly. He also did not want me to miss any golden opportunity. Is that why you also took up chances of performing abroad , quite early on ?
I preformed on foreign shores when I was still in college. In my first year at Mithibhai, I got a chance to perform abroad in lieu of the '50 years of Independence' shows held abroad. I traveled to Canada and Toronto and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Shatrugan Sinha and Pran. That was a turning point, as my performance won a lot of praise and it was probably the first time I got paid. I felt like a true professional.
And, people also started taking you seriously as a professional didn't they? You have been showered with quite a few accolades.
Recognition came very early in life for me. At the age of eighteen I was probably the youngest to be awarded the Sringar Mani- Kal ke Kalakaraward from the Sur Shringar Sansad. I also won the Nritya Urvashi from the Pracheen Kala Kendra. At the risk of sounding immodest, those are just two of the many I have received. Awards make me feel like I am doing something worthwhile. It is nice to know that people are aware of my talent. Even Mr. Bachchan was appreciative of your performance ,right?
I preformed at the recent K.C Golden Jubilee function which was studded with prominent personalities like Anil Ambani, L.K Advani and Amitabh Bachchan. I remember going weak in the knees when I saw him sitting there in the front row. But once I started dancing I forget my nervousness. It was an honor to be performing in front of someone as impressive as Mr. Bachchan. He even sent me a letter after the show praising my work. I will treasure it forever.
You seemed be to be going ahead full throttle with your dancing career. How did television happen?
That happened totally by chance. While I was in college my friends goaded me into participating in a Miss Teen contest. I went in for a lark but emerged as first runner up. One of the prizes offered was a free photo shoot and needless to say I got my portfolio done. My mom works in a bank and many of her clients were people connected to the media. Eventually my pictures made their way to B.R films and I got a call. It was for their ongoing series called Amar Chitra Katha and they wanted me to play Parvathi. They were willing to pay me 6000 rupees per episode and there were ten in all. It seemed like an exorbitant sum but I was reluctant. Why?
I did not wanted to get slotted in a mooch mukut kind of genre if at all I was going to step into television. But my father made me see light. He said that I should make the most of my god given talent and before I knew it, I was ready with costume and make-up the next day on the sets. I don't remember being nervous but I was apprehensive as there were a lot of senior television regulars in the show. To his credit, Ravi Chopra brought out the best in me. In emotional scenes he would give me all the time I needed, but wouldn't let me use glycerine. I think I did fine. Dialogue delivery was not a problem, the shudh Hindi was similar to my bols in Kathak. So did the acting bug bite you right then?
Acting seemed to be written in my destiny although I never went after it. Infact after my stint with B.R films I went abroad on a dance tour. At that time Balaji Telefilms was just shaping up and were launching a mega serial(which, I learned later was Kyunki...). By this time I had starting taking Urdu lessons to perfect my language. I auditioned and they offered me the lead role in a serial called Kundali on Channel Nine. I instinctively said yes as the story about two sisters was very intriguing. A the same time Kyunki...also fell into my lap. I was also roped into Koshish on Zee, where I was playing the youngest bahu. They say it never rains it always pours, and a Sony show Kahin Diya Jale Kahin Diya also came my way. That seems like a lot of work at the same time. How did you manage?
It was very exhausting. I think I was just too overwhelmed by all the positive response and accepted all the offers. Soon I was like a sleepwalking ghost because I had to shoot round the clock . There was a time when I was shooting for 20-25 days without a break. My family had given up on me. Then three of the shows shut down. Only Kyunki... was going on and somehow I came to my senses. I decided never to over work myself in that manner again. Currently, your role in Piya Ka Ghar is going strong.
I had a role in Bhabhi but the show got revamped and my character died a natural death. I took up Piya Ka Ghar because again, conceptually it is different. Although I don't play the main role my character is very well etched out and these days the story revolves around me. Besides that, I am anchoring Urja which is a spiritually informative show and of course, Kyunki Saas....
What is happening to your character Pooja, in Kyunki...
I don't do much in Kyunki..at the moment.(Gives a wry smile) My character has taken a back seat but I am willing to wait and watch. This show has given me a lot. I am synonymous with Pooja. Wherever I go people point to me and whisper 'Pooja'. It gives me a high . Were you okay with the twenty year leap? You are playing someone who is so much older than yourself
I do feel that women on TV play characters much older than themselves. Take my own case. I am 23 and I play mother to sons who are my age. It is absurd, they do look older than me. But I am not sure I would have welcomed a total change in getup; a la grey hair and wrinkles. Why not?
Look at it this way. If I take a break to devote time to marriage and kids and make a comeback a few years later I will still get all elderly maa bhabhi roles. So why start now? Is there a temptation to walk out of the show, considering your role has become quite minimalisitic?
Kyunki... is not like any other show. I am proud to be a part of the serial as it has become a benchmark. It would take a lot of guts to leave such a show, and besides Balaji has put me where I am today. I don't think I should walk out just because I don't figure too prominentely in the plot at the moment. Do you feel at times that television gets very monotonous.
At times , yes. There can be better scripts on television. If the makers want, they can come up with different concepts. There so many novels in different languages that you can gain inspiration from. But I guess it is matter of which trends dominate. Are you open to film offers?
Yes I am. But totally depends on what kind of film and what the role implies.. I am very adamant about safeguarding my classical dancer image. I can't wear a two bit costume on one day and perform kathak the next,. I would feel that I am cheating myself. If a role comes along that suits me in every manner I might take it up. What about the political arena?
(smiling warily) I know what you mean...well BJP has appraoched me for campaigning . But I have not said 'yes' or a 'no'. I need time to think.
Yes, dancing is my passion in my life. I started dancing at the age of four. It started off as a very casual thing. My dad and I were walking down a street where we saw a board put up announcing dancing classes. We walked in and enrolled and then there was never looking back. Initially I just went along because other kids were in it too, but as I learned more I got really interested..Now dancing is my life. What is your specialization?
I have learned Kathak-Jaipur Gharana from Guru Ganesh Hiralal. My first stage performance was on Doordarshan. There used to be a programme called Kill Bill on DD long time ago, that was very popular. Our group performed for that show. I was still very small. That was followed by a performance at Tejpal auditorium and then came a long series of performances. Soon dance became like a second nature to me and I realized that I was truly good at it. When did you first realise that this could become a full time career?
I started learning singing and also the sitar in school. At an all India talent competition, I entered for all three and came first in dance and sitar and grabbed the second prize for singing. I think it was around that time that I realized that I should take up Kathak professionally. You know, my dad has always extolled, that if you are going to take up something, make sure you give it your best. He was adamant that I should not do anything haphazardly. He also did not want me to miss any golden opportunity. Is that why you also took up chances of performing abroad , quite early on ?
I preformed on foreign shores when I was still in college. In my first year at Mithibhai, I got a chance to perform abroad in lieu of the '50 years of Independence' shows held abroad. I traveled to Canada and Toronto and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Shatrugan Sinha and Pran. That was a turning point, as my performance won a lot of praise and it was probably the first time I got paid. I felt like a true professional.
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Recognition came very early in life for me. At the age of eighteen I was probably the youngest to be awarded the Sringar Mani- Kal ke Kalakaraward from the Sur Shringar Sansad. I also won the Nritya Urvashi from the Pracheen Kala Kendra. At the risk of sounding immodest, those are just two of the many I have received. Awards make me feel like I am doing something worthwhile. It is nice to know that people are aware of my talent. Even Mr. Bachchan was appreciative of your performance ,right?
I preformed at the recent K.C Golden Jubilee function which was studded with prominent personalities like Anil Ambani, L.K Advani and Amitabh Bachchan. I remember going weak in the knees when I saw him sitting there in the front row. But once I started dancing I forget my nervousness. It was an honor to be performing in front of someone as impressive as Mr. Bachchan. He even sent me a letter after the show praising my work. I will treasure it forever.
That happened totally by chance. While I was in college my friends goaded me into participating in a Miss Teen contest. I went in for a lark but emerged as first runner up. One of the prizes offered was a free photo shoot and needless to say I got my portfolio done. My mom works in a bank and many of her clients were people connected to the media. Eventually my pictures made their way to B.R films and I got a call. It was for their ongoing series called Amar Chitra Katha and they wanted me to play Parvathi. They were willing to pay me 6000 rupees per episode and there were ten in all. It seemed like an exorbitant sum but I was reluctant. Why?
I did not wanted to get slotted in a mooch mukut kind of genre if at all I was going to step into television. But my father made me see light. He said that I should make the most of my god given talent and before I knew it, I was ready with costume and make-up the next day on the sets. I don't remember being nervous but I was apprehensive as there were a lot of senior television regulars in the show. To his credit, Ravi Chopra brought out the best in me. In emotional scenes he would give me all the time I needed, but wouldn't let me use glycerine. I think I did fine. Dialogue delivery was not a problem, the shudh Hindi was similar to my bols in Kathak. So did the acting bug bite you right then?
Acting seemed to be written in my destiny although I never went after it. Infact after my stint with B.R films I went abroad on a dance tour. At that time Balaji Telefilms was just shaping up and were launching a mega serial(which, I learned later was Kyunki...). By this time I had starting taking Urdu lessons to perfect my language. I auditioned and they offered me the lead role in a serial called Kundali on Channel Nine. I instinctively said yes as the story about two sisters was very intriguing. A the same time Kyunki...also fell into my lap. I was also roped into Koshish on Zee, where I was playing the youngest bahu. They say it never rains it always pours, and a Sony show Kahin Diya Jale Kahin Diya also came my way. That seems like a lot of work at the same time. How did you manage?
It was very exhausting. I think I was just too overwhelmed by all the positive response and accepted all the offers. Soon I was like a sleepwalking ghost because I had to shoot round the clock . There was a time when I was shooting for 20-25 days without a break. My family had given up on me. Then three of the shows shut down. Only Kyunki... was going on and somehow I came to my senses. I decided never to over work myself in that manner again. Currently, your role in Piya Ka Ghar is going strong.
I had a role in Bhabhi but the show got revamped and my character died a natural death. I took up Piya Ka Ghar because again, conceptually it is different. Although I don't play the main role my character is very well etched out and these days the story revolves around me. Besides that, I am anchoring Urja which is a spiritually informative show and of course, Kyunki Saas....
I don't do much in Kyunki..at the moment.(Gives a wry smile) My character has taken a back seat but I am willing to wait and watch. This show has given me a lot. I am synonymous with Pooja. Wherever I go people point to me and whisper 'Pooja'. It gives me a high . Were you okay with the twenty year leap? You are playing someone who is so much older than yourself
I do feel that women on TV play characters much older than themselves. Take my own case. I am 23 and I play mother to sons who are my age. It is absurd, they do look older than me. But I am not sure I would have welcomed a total change in getup; a la grey hair and wrinkles. Why not?
Look at it this way. If I take a break to devote time to marriage and kids and make a comeback a few years later I will still get all elderly maa bhabhi roles. So why start now? Is there a temptation to walk out of the show, considering your role has become quite minimalisitic?
Kyunki... is not like any other show. I am proud to be a part of the serial as it has become a benchmark. It would take a lot of guts to leave such a show, and besides Balaji has put me where I am today. I don't think I should walk out just because I don't figure too prominentely in the plot at the moment. Do you feel at times that television gets very monotonous.
At times , yes. There can be better scripts on television. If the makers want, they can come up with different concepts. There so many novels in different languages that you can gain inspiration from. But I guess it is matter of which trends dominate. Are you open to film offers?
Yes I am. But totally depends on what kind of film and what the role implies.. I am very adamant about safeguarding my classical dancer image. I can't wear a two bit costume on one day and perform kathak the next,. I would feel that I am cheating myself. If a role comes along that suits me in every manner I might take it up. What about the political arena?
(smiling warily) I know what you mean...well BJP has appraoched me for campaigning . But I have not said 'yes' or a 'no'. I need time to think.
Right now, what is more important, dancing or acting?
Dancing will always remain my first love. There is a certain passion and discipline involved. TV is not continuous. There is 'action' and there is 'cut' and then endless hours of waiting in the make-up room. Buy when I dance I get a feeling of completeness, a high I cannot describe. It takes me onto a
CID
Bollywood
Music Corner
Cricket
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
