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It had a bumpy tread in the beginning...Cynics had a field day smirking at it's structure, it's mounting - and what must have hurt more - it's lead pair, of whose chemistry, rather the supposed lack of it was all over the Know-all's circles in their grabbing sessions...To add Mirchi to their misery, it had a sleepy start on the popularity charts too!
But all of that changed and how!
Like a royal stallion's trot growing into a glorious gallop, 'Jodha Akbar' soared to tower over the Charts and the toffee-nosed know-alls were biting the dust, while it's leads became the country's darlings like nobody's business...
Today, TV's Jodha & Akbar are being toasted all over, we bring you a close-up of the twosome behind this Love Royale...Read On...
( He is hunky, handsome and a head-turner - in short, the stuff that makes the snootiest of belies weak in the knees... All that regalia - those shimmering silk robes and those 'Heeron-Jaday' headgears suit him to a 'T' and there is something decidedly royal about his gait...
Indeed, TV's Akbar & Rajat Tokas are 'hand & glove' without a shred of doubt...!
She can be both demure and daughty by turn... And she is chiselled in typical Indian features, the kind of which you see in ancient Frescos... She has both the aura and allure of a Rajasthani princess, who was destined to become the Empress of India...
Make no mistake about it - Paridhi Sharma is not acting as Jodha, she is living Jodha on the Screen...
Still, behind all that regalia are two truly genuine human beings, hobnobbing with whom is such a delight... Discover for yourself...)
How did the two of you happen to the Show ?
'Jodha Akbar' is one of the topnotch Shows, today - being its lead is a dream-come-true for you or just a success in your career?
Rajat Tokas : It certainly means the world to me! It's a validation of the grind & grime, the sweat & toil that I had to go through for it !
Paridhi Sharma : Exactly ! It proves all over again that hard work pays - it's a dream -come-true for me!
How did the two of you happen to the Show ?
Paridhi : Through the same process as every actor goes through for a role - audition , short listing, look-tests and all! And after I was selected , I got to know that I've been chosen out of 7,000 auditions taken all across India ... I felt so lucky !
Rajat : I was picked up foremost of all ! It was only after me being on board as Akbar that Ekta Ma'am went about casting the other roles !
Recall your audition for us - what was going on in your mind ? Were you anxious ? Happy ? Edgy ? Confident? ... What ?
Paridhi : Pretty confident ! I was already doing 'Ruk Jaana Nahin' (Star Plus), so I knew the camera and its demands. I had also done Historical characters on Stage, so that wasn't a problem either!
Rajat : I went through a typical audition, but Ekta Ma'am knew of me and my work - so it was only a matter of sinking my teeth in the role - nothing else mattered in my case!
Apparently, it was a most prestigious role to grab - how long and tormenting was the waiting period before the final nod of approved came? What would you say to yourself in those worried nights?
Rajat : The worried nights came not for landing the role - the worried nights came after I landed it and the nerves were for perfecting my role and live Akbar on the Screen!
Paridhi : Let me share a story here - the first time I accompanied my dad to Mumbai was when I was in my 12th standard and then, itself, I had auditioned for a Balaji role - but that didn't happen! From that audition to Jodha, seven years passed before a Balaji nod came my way! Such is 'Destiny'!
Tell us about the first day of Shooting, when you donned the full costume & make-up for these larger than life roles - how did you react to your image in the mirror?
Rajat : More than me reacting to it, I was scared and trembling to step onto the set, trying to exude that air of Royalty! There have been so many portrayals of Akbar in the past, so will I be able to bring something new? Or at least something right? And these questions were dancing on all the faces, there!
Paridhi : After donning the regalia, I suddenly turned far more mature and yes - I looked good as Jodha! The first day was not that good... it was difficult! I did my best but it didn't come out good enough for their expectations! I have taken time in perfecting my act!
What was the instant reaction of the unit?
Paridhi : In this Industry, nobody reacts to you the way you want, initially! But by and by, I came to be appreciated and particularly exciting was when Ekta Ma'am said 'Great Job!' to me, as she is not known to be effusive in he praise!
Rajat : I goofed up here and there! There were a few things I had to get right and that too without losing time... and I have done that! It had to happen that way as all that was needed was some care and nurturing!
The Show was a slow-starter on the Popularity Charts... did any disappointment ever creep in?
Rajat : But isn't that the case everywhere? Things take time before settling in!
Paridhi : My concern was to do my best - if that gives dividends - fine, if not - even then, the actor in me would remain content!
Rajat, you have a particular way of delivering the dialogue here that is almost sing-song... How did you arrive at it?
Rajat : I've used a combination of my research, inputs of the 'Creative' team and my own creative interpretation of the style & mannerism of Akbar. And to be honest, today I can really say, it's like 'Action - Akbar!' and 'Cut - Rajat!'
There also has been a criticism about your pronunciation of Urdu words - how, do you react to such criticism?
Rajat : Well, there is a 'Creative' team that guides me on it and as an actor, I'm giving it my best shot!
Fine! Accha, when did you realise for the first ever time that you have hit the nail as Akbar with the viewers?
Rajat : It wasn't like - 'Oh, this is the moment of my 'Connect' with the audience' - it all happened by and by!
How about your Jodha, Paridhi?
Paridhi : Same! Gradually... through Media, Papers...!
How different the two of you feel after doing Jodha and Akbar?
Paridhi : In my personal life, nothing has changed - but that said, I also feel that as an individual, I have grown more mature, stronger and even more practical!
Rajat, success is something you had already tasted with ' Prithviraj Chauhan' - but what is it like after Akbar?
Rajat : It is yet another validation of my hard work and creativity and I feel blessed that I have always been 'different' in all my roles so far!
Why do you think 'Jodha Akbar has connected with the viewers?
Rajat : The fact is that a story well told invariably manages to captivate the audience and this show has explored several interesting angles of Jodha - Akbar that no film or book has touched before!
Paridhi : I think its 'connect' is because it's a 'Love Story' and a 'Love Story' between two cultures at that - that's it's winning point!
Accha, how much of you are in Jodha?
Paridhi : Well, I'm as strong-headed as her and I also share whatever is in my heart with others, just like she does!
And how about you, Rajat? How much of you are in Akbar?
Rajat : Oh, our lives are so alike - we both started young... both got a huge responsibility that we weren't ready for... both have been misunderstood all the time (ha-ha-ha... comes the crackling laughter) and both have wished to be remembered long after we are gone!
And what is in them that is starkly opposite to your persons?
Rajat : I can't pinpoint any such gaping difference!
Paridhi : I can't share my husband with anyone else! But Jodha is rather cool about it that 'Ok, you can have many wives, 'cause you Shehenshah'... So what? I won't let it happen!
Hypothetically speaking, if you were in Jodha's and Akbar's situation, would you behave the same way as them?
Paridhi : Not really - Jodha is too patient! I can't wait for things to happen that long!
Rajat : I would - mostly! Akbar and I both think a thousand times before doing something, but once we choose to do it, we are absolutely adamant about our choice!
Do you take your characters home?
Rajat : Nope!
Paridhi : It's hard to believe, but I feel a strange connection of Jodha's joys or blues to what is happening in my life!
Okay, tell us a scene that required an extra effort on your part...
Paridhi : There was a fire scene where I had to save Motibai - it was a real difficult shoot and we were totally drained out - but the performance was simply superb!
Rajat : All those scenes where my character undergoes a change in his persona have been difficult and a challenge for the actor in me!
Accha, tell us, why be an actor?
Did the mirror tell you that you are Acting material?
Rajat : All I will say is that Acting chose me, I didn't choose Acting - period!
Ok, Granted & honoured! Chalo, let us have your story, Paridhi...
Paridhi : Not mirror, but my heart told me that Acting has to be my calling in life... that's why even after doing MBA, I realised it was not my cup of tea and my childhood wishes pushed me onto the Acting profession!
During childhood, what was your home like? What were the Do's and Don't you had to follow?
Paridhi : My Dad was a Government officer in Bangalore... there weren't any elaborate Do's and Don'ts, but I always got punished for not doing my hone-work!
Was there resentment at home at your decision to take Acting as a profession?
Paridhi : On the contrary, it was my thanks to my parents' support that I could reach here!
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