Sangeeta[Priyanka]:Romance is my forte!

The small screen 'queen of romance' is back with Ravi Chopra's mega serial, 'Viraasat'. Needless to say her character is steeped in romance.

The Bong babe is having a ball playing the main lead opposite Rohit Roy. The serial boasts of some of the biggest names of TV and is being touted as the biggest soap to have hit the small screen. Sangeeta is understandably excited about her role. She invites us on the sets of 'Viraasat' and as we watch her giving a perfect shot looking a million dollars in her brocade salwar kameez. Her water-proof make-up and a big smile in place, she talks to us about this 'huge' serial, her mentor, films, marriage and more.

Yet another romantic role, romance seems to be your forte.

I am very comfortable with romantic roles. It is my forte and I don't mind that at all. I am not one of those actors who say that 'Oh, I am trying to deviate from it.' I do it well and I enjoy doing it. Priyanka, the character that I am playing is not just a romantic character though the tag line of the show gives that impression. It is essentially about love and hate, but there is love of different kinds towards different people in the show and it is just not romance.

How do you feel being pitted against some of the best known actors of television?

At some time or the other we have crossed path with each other, although I haven't worked with many of them. It is my first time with Aman, Jayati, Rohit and Deepak Qazir who plays my father. It is pretty cool. We are all professionals, we understand that it is a big show that needed big names from the industry and we are all comfortable about it. We are as nervous as newcomers as it is a huge show and we all want it to do well.

You have done very few serials and have been extremely selective of late. What makes you say yes to a script?

I have always been selective. It is just that I was not doing lead roles earlier, so I could afford to do more than one serial but once I started doing lead roles, it doesn't leave you time for more than one or two serials at one point of time. As far as choosing my roles is concerned, there are a few things I keep in mind; first of all it is the role itself and then the maker. I have been very lucky that I have been offered great roles from great producers. I didn't have to sit for 6 months and wait for the right kind of role to come my way, things have just happened to me one after the other at the right point of time. I think I am very fortunate.

You have had a long career starting at the age of 12, who do you think has been most crucial and pivotal in your career?

There have been different people at different points of time. Sometimes you don't even realize how some people play such an important part in your life. I think my mother has always supported me, in fact my entire family; they have never objected to my doing anything that I have done so far. They have never questioned my decisions. When I entered this industry I learnt a lot from Mr. Lekh Tandon. At first I didn't understand why he screamed at me but later I realized and learnt a lot from him. Aroona Irani ji has been responsible for my success in this industry. The kind of popularity 'Mehndi Tere Naam Ki' and 'Des Mein Nikla Hoga' Chand gave me was responsible for my reaching where I am today.

Did your mentor Aroona Irani approach you for 'Vaidehi'?

Long time back when the concept was with her, I can say it with pride. (laughs) But I was already considering Viraasat. I was doing 'Rabba Ishq Na hove' with Aroona Ji at that time and I told her very frankly that I can take only one project. It would be either her show or 'Viraasat'. I somewhere wanted to do 'Viraasat' and told me that you go ahead and take up 'Viraasat'. She is not a selfish person and I can discuss things with her openly. 'Vaidehi' is a good story and a good subject

Do you regret not doing it?

No regrets! I am enjoying doing 'Viraasat' and my writers are brilliant. I am having a ball working with all these actors. I gel with everybody. We have a ball on the sets. They are big actors but professionally I have not seen anyone throwing a tantrum. Ravi ji treats us like stars, like his family. The shoot feels like a film shoot; there is no pressure or hurrying things. Till now it is like this and I hope it remains like this.

You have spoken about your desire to enter films on many occasions. Is it happening soon?

It is not that easy to get into films. You know what, I have no regrets. I am doing everything on the small screen that I wished to do or would have probably done in films. May be I wouldn't get to do such good stuff in films; the kind of roles, importance and exposure that I get through TV. You can count the number of heroines on your fingers that are getting good roles. That too when they have spent a long time in the TV industry. So it is not that easy. I would want to get into films, but I wouldn't go knocking on every door. If I get noticed somewhere, then it is ok. But at this moment I am satisfied with 'Viraasat'.

Do you think that TV stars today are becoming big in their own right?

The bridge is narrowing. We are becoming big but we have still not reached there. I don't want to pretend to myself that I am as big as a film star. We are not as big as film stars. We look up to them. We rush to the cinema halls to watch their films. So the gap remains. Thanks to the media, we are getting noticed like never before but film stars are still film stars.

In your serials you are always dressed in traditional Indian clothes whereas in real life your image is of a hot 'n' happening girl. Which image are you more comfortable in?

A role demands a certain dress code. If tomorrow I get a role like that I'll wear western outfits. I believe I wear good clothes. Even if I wear a saree, my sarees are not those typical ones you see. They make me look young and good.

You have said in an interview that you don't believe in the institution of marriage. Is it true?

What I said was that I am scared of making a commitment. I don't know how strong the relationship remains in this day and age. I have seen my parents still with each other after so many years, despite all the problems etc. They know how to adjust with each other but my generation is different. I don't know whether I'll be able to adjust so much. When I look at my parents, their understanding was that come what may we'll be together. I don't know whether I am that sort of a person. Maybe I'll adjust for a while and then I'll say that enough is enough. Though I should have a positive approach towards marriage as I am a positive person, but I have seen a lot of marriages failing around me. Who wouldn't want to settle down, but I don't want to make a commitment at this point of time. My family has never pressurized me. My mother tells me that you are free to decide whether you want to get married or not. I feel I am not ready.