Bye-bye Ba

Bye-bye Ba

Soon to 'die' in 'Kyunkii…' veteran Sudha
Shivpuri asserts that success knows no age

Farhana Farook

The epic character of Ba in Ekta Kapoor's 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' (Star Plus) will soon 'die' in keeping with the show's 20-year-leap. Essaying the matriarch took the 60-plus Sudha Shivpuri to cult status. Quitting the show that made her a drawing room darling makes Sudha sentimental. She says, "From being a timid person to enjoying this kind of success after the age of 60, it's been a fine journey."
She underlines that the old order must move out to ring in the new. "Only when my character dies, will the younger lot step in." But she refutes that it's unrealistic to portray a character who is 106-years-old, "There is a man in Jaipur who is 130-years-old. Though he can't see, all his other faculties are working."
Sudha adds that she resumed acting after 16 years with the Balaji shows. She muses, "I started with 'Bandhan'. New hopes kindled and I stepped out of retirement. Success can happen at any age. It's all about willpower."
She denies that 'Kyunkii…' is dragging with the 20-year-leap "As long as the audiences are enjoying, as long as the TRPs are good, why should the show not go on?" Sudha avers.
Reminiscing about the bond she shared with Smriti Z Irani (Tulsi) and Apara Mehta (Savita), Sudha says, "There was a lot of give and take between us. They gave me apnapan and respect. Earning money is easy. It's earning respect that's important." She adds, "I thank Ektaa for giving me so much respect and not treating me like a worker."
Sudha, who is presently playing a 'chulbuli dadi' in 'Kasamh Se', is open to doing other television shows. Not keen to do films, she adds, "Films hold no charm for me. They have no good dadi roles to offer."