‘I would be dead if...’-Jaya aka Pammi

A versatile actor, Jaya Bhatia says she would love to portray various kinds of roles that challenge her as an artiste and offer some variety. But sadly that's not the case with most television serials and characters. "We are stuck in a certain formula because TRPs are dictating everything — the story, characters and conflicts. Television programming has become more of a gamble than anything creative," says Jayati Bhatia.

Sadly, no one can afford to swim against the current, as that will mean sitting at home. So Jayati says she prefers to work within the mainstream formula and make a little difference by choosing her roles carefully so that she stands out in the rut.

Ironically, the very production house that initiated the trend of family dramas and is still cashing in on it continues to be Jayati's favourite production company. The actress who learnt acting from Ebrahim Alkazi for three years before coming to Mumbai, got her break in serials in Balaji's afternoon daily for DD called Itihaas. That was way back in 1997. Eleven years later, she feels at home doing Balaji shows.

Not to say there were no disappointments. Kutumb was a huge let down for her. But there have been many plus points too. "Kanyadaan was a good show. Kasauti and Kahani were satisfying. And now Kuchh Is Tara is a good experience too," she says.

If Ekta has said that she is trying to break away from her formula soaps with Kuchh Is Tara, Jayati says Ekta means it. "One thing I can vouch for is that the Godbole family of Kuchh Is Tara is real and there is a ring of truth in every scene and dialogue that revolves around the middle class Godbole family. We rehearse every scene before we shoot and Ekta has given us full freedom to cut out anything that sounds farfetched or unreal. She has told us to play it out the way we believe," she reveals.

But ask her about the filthy rich Nanda family of Kuchh Is Tara and Jayati says that's the requirement of the story as the show is essentially about how a middle class girl does not compromise on her values and beliefs even after being married into a rich family.

"I think people have stopped watching good stories. Give them something real and they give it a thumbs down. I guess viewers like to see the rich and famous cry and go through the same hell that they go through in the daily lives. It gives them some pleasure," says Jayati.

Talking about her role, Jayati says Pammi is like any middle class mother. "The beauty of the character is that she is a woman who has a positive outlook, despite being at the crossroads in life. She is the balancing factor between the children and father," she adds.

Jayati has no qualms about playing mother to 20 and 25-year-old actors. "In Viraasat I played mother to Aman (Verma) and Rohit (Roy) who are older than me. It's only since the past two years that I am playing mother to grown up boys and girls. I am okay with it because actress younger than me are also playing middle-aged mothers," she adds, laughing.

What keeps the actor in her going are shows like Jassi and Viraasat and theatre. "I would be dead if I don't do theatre. It keeps me alive," she says in a serious tone.

Currently besides television, Jayati is doing three plays, Mad about Money, Khatijabai of Karmali Terrace and the path-breaking and bold Vagina Monologue.

Khatijabai is a one-woman play about a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease and Vagina Monologue which has had 180 sold out shows over the past five years has Jayati doing two monologues and three supporting acts. "When I started doing Vagina Monologue many people thought it's about fun and sex and were hesitant to even say the full title. They would only say Monolgue. Today however, the scenario is changing," she says with a smile.

www.deccan.com