Smile please!

Renuka Shahane's co-stars in Jeete Hain Jiske Liye are trying their best to cheer up a depressed Renuka, who is currently shooting a gloomy jail sequence

One of the first things that one notices about Renuka Shahane is her infectious smile that is bright enough to rival any spotlight. But of late, the actress is seldom seen smiling. Renuka has been shooting a depressing sequence in Jeete Hain Jiske Liye for quite some time now. Her character, Anjali, has been put behind bars and now Renuka has to spend many hours in that gloomy set alone for hours together, while the rest of the cast shoot elsewhere.

But, the actress has found other ways to cheer herself up. Most of her co-actors have been sending her funny SMSes to keep her spirits buoyed. Says Renuka, "I have been getting hilarious messages from co-actors. They are also calling me whenever possible just to check that I am doing fine."

As Renuka is shooting a jail sequence, the unit has been divided into two teams. While one team is shooting with Renuka, the second team is shooting the family's trials and tribulations with the rest of the cast. Says Renuka, "I have always been a happy-go-lucky person. But, the scenes I have been shooting of late are really depressing and taking a toll on me. Thankfully, my co-actors are there to bail me out. Ashwini Kalsekar and Smita Bansal are constantly in touch with me. Rituraj has personally come just to check whether I am alright or not."

The actress has also been advised by her friends to read comedies to do away with the melancholy. "I am reading Letters by Groucho Marx which is really funny," says Renuka. After shooting for nearly 14 to 15 hours every day, the actress gets her spirits back when she meets her two sons Shauryaman and Satyendra at home. "I hope the jail scenes get over soon and I get a life both on and off-screen," she says.