Posted:
Television's young moms
Shruti Jambhekar, TNN | Sep 8, 2011, 12.00AM ISTThey were 'young' protagonists who sizzled on small screen even a couple of years back.
And now, they're playing 'good' moms or MILs to the present young lot of protagonists. Interestingly, in most cases, the age gap (off-screen) between actors playing mom/MIL and protagonist could be as little as five years! That's how the cookie crumbles for small screen's new 'young' moms.
Nausheen Ali Sardar who played the lead character in Kkusum six years ago is now playing mom to Anuj Thakur in Beend Banunga Ghodi Chadhunga, Riva Babber plays mother to Sara Khan in Ram Milaye Jodi,Amrita Raichand will soon play the grown up Shobha's mother in Shobha Somnath Ki, Kshitee Jogwho is Soumya Seth's mother in Navya was the female lead in Ghar Ki Laxmi Betiyan two years ago. Then there's Lata Sabharwal who's Hina Khan's mother in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (and played Shahid Kapoor's bhabhi in Vivaah) Meghna Mallik who is playing grandmom in Na Aana Iss Des Laado and Smita Bansal playing Shashank Vyas' mother in Balika Vadhu or Vaishali Thakker as Tina Dutta's mother in Uttaran and many more - all of these actresses are in their early or mid-thirties and are donning roles of 'new generation' mother and mom-in-laws. Even though they are playing strong characters, it is difficult for the audience to relate with them playing moms to the female/male leads.
So how easy is it for these actresses to take up the challenge of playing 'mom'? Riva Babber laughs as she admits that she's, "already played mother to actors who were elder than me in Kyunki...Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi! And rather than playing a sister or bhabhi, I preferred playing mother of the female lead in the soap." Even Nausheen, who had reportedly quit Kkusum as the show was taking a leap is now playing role of mother! "As an actor, it is important to do different characters. Now with my appearance and the way narrowing down of characters is done in TV soaps, I would fit into the role of mother or a bhabhi in the serial. I have to be practical," she says.
Kshitee says, "I still continue to portray the role of a character younger than me in theater. So what is wrong in taking up the challenge in playing an older character? The relevance of the character is important."
What do producers have to say about this entire casting drift going 'young'? Producer Rajan Shahi says, "Girls who play the main protagonists are very young so their mothers have to be young too. Mothers as well as mother-in-laws in daily soaps are very strong characters so it is best to cast seasoned actresses." Even producer Siddharth Tewary has a similar opinion, "We have 17 year olds playing the lead, so their mothers have to be young. Age is just a number." And the TRPs are doing their bit in making the audience believe so too!
And now, they're playing 'good' moms or MILs to the present young lot of protagonists. Interestingly, in most cases, the age gap (off-screen) between actors playing mom/MIL and protagonist could be as little as five years! That's how the cookie crumbles for small screen's new 'young' moms.
Nausheen Ali Sardar who played the lead character in Kkusum six years ago is now playing mom to Anuj Thakur in Beend Banunga Ghodi Chadhunga, Riva Babber plays mother to Sara Khan in Ram Milaye Jodi,Amrita Raichand will soon play the grown up Shobha's mother in Shobha Somnath Ki, Kshitee Jogwho is Soumya Seth's mother in Navya was the female lead in Ghar Ki Laxmi Betiyan two years ago. Then there's Lata Sabharwal who's Hina Khan's mother in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (and played Shahid Kapoor's bhabhi in Vivaah) Meghna Mallik who is playing grandmom in Na Aana Iss Des Laado and Smita Bansal playing Shashank Vyas' mother in Balika Vadhu or Vaishali Thakker as Tina Dutta's mother in Uttaran and many more - all of these actresses are in their early or mid-thirties and are donning roles of 'new generation' mother and mom-in-laws. Even though they are playing strong characters, it is difficult for the audience to relate with them playing moms to the female/male leads.
So how easy is it for these actresses to take up the challenge of playing 'mom'? Riva Babber laughs as she admits that she's, "already played mother to actors who were elder than me in Kyunki...Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi! And rather than playing a sister or bhabhi, I preferred playing mother of the female lead in the soap." Even Nausheen, who had reportedly quit Kkusum as the show was taking a leap is now playing role of mother! "As an actor, it is important to do different characters. Now with my appearance and the way narrowing down of characters is done in TV soaps, I would fit into the role of mother or a bhabhi in the serial. I have to be practical," she says.
Kshitee says, "I still continue to portray the role of a character younger than me in theater. So what is wrong in taking up the challenge in playing an older character? The relevance of the character is important."
What do producers have to say about this entire casting drift going 'young'? Producer Rajan Shahi says, "Girls who play the main protagonists are very young so their mothers have to be young too. Mothers as well as mother-in-laws in daily soaps are very strong characters so it is best to cast seasoned actresses." Even producer Siddharth Tewary has a similar opinion, "We have 17 year olds playing the lead, so their mothers have to be young. Age is just a number." And the TRPs are doing their bit in making the audience believe so too!
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
14