here's the Article from DELHI TIMES.....
I can't play a bahu who sobs day & night'
Shweta Gulati asserts that the Indian bahu as portrayed in the telly soaps is far from the real Indian woman
NIKHILA PANT
To keep K-soaps at bay isn't a conscious decision," clarifies the petite actress Shweta Gulati, adding, "I was approached to act in a couple of shows in the past but I can't play a bahu who sobs day and night. And this bahu also needs to paint her face and don loads of jewellery – I can't do that too! The real Indian woman is distant from what is shown in these shows. Unfortunately, that's what sells!" Does that mean we will always see her playing a chirpy youngster? "No, I shall not play a youngster all my life. If an author-backed role comes my way, I shall play a bahu on the telly more than happily."
Shweta will soon be seen as an ambitious professional Rhea on Bindass' Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. On her role in the show, she has this to say, "I play a character that's very close to my real life. Rhea is prim and proper and does everything skillfully. She is also career-oriented and knows what she is best at. It is a romantic comedy and hence there will be a lot of playful friction between Rhea and Rohan (played by newcomer Akshay Dogra)." Tia of Remix, Sonia in Amber Dhara, Push in Jigar Maa Badi Aag Hai and now Rhea – she seems to be perfecting the art of portraying a self-indulgent girl! Tell her this and she nods, "I would rather call them playful and exciting characters. But since I don't want to be typecast, I have managed to bring various shades to all the characters. So while Tia was vain, Sonia had a negative tinge and Push was a little silly." The pretty Mumbai girl maintains that reality shows excite her and also adds that she has refused a couple of offers for the same in the past. "I was approached for Comedy Circus and Big Boss but I didn't take them. Since I don't have a celebrity partner and I can't sing to save my life, I don't fit the bill for some popular shows," she says and adds an afterthought, "I would prefer hosting a reality show than being a participant on one of them." Another thing that's been keeping her on her toes is her play Aastha with director Saif Haider Hassan. The subject of theatre touches a string in her heart and she says, "I play the role of an aspiring actress. The play sensitively explores love, pain and passion in human life." Given a choice, would she ever think of shunning TV for theatre? "Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah calls theatre his first love and I second that! Unlike abroad, where theatre, operas and musicals have a huge fan following, India only has a niche audience for theatre. If only theatre could pay me as much as television does, I would pursue theatre with all my heart and energies," she says.