Shoma Anand's chat transcript

Transcript of LIVE INDIATIMES CHAT with actress Shoma Anand at 12 noon (IST) on Monday, December 19 2005, in Mumbai

Shoma Anand
actress

"I worked in my first film Barood just for fun, as Rishi Kapoor was a golden jubilee star then. At that time, I was not thinking much about my career"

Manojr17 > What completion do you face in your stream?
Shoma Anand > Right now, there are so many good artistes around. So, there is a lot of competition and now there are so many comedy serials on air. In fact, there is a lot of competition among the serials also.

Raj > How is the experience of working in (TV serial) Hum Paanch ?
Shoma Anand > Very good. I started Hum Paanch in 1994. And now, after a beak, it's come back on the small screen this season.

Mona > You made your debut opposite actor Rishi Kapoor years ago in a film called Barood . But we didn't see much of you as a main stream actress after that first film of yours. Why?
Shoma Anand > I worked in Barood just for fun, as Rishi Kapoor was a golden jubilee star then. And, at that time, I was not thinking much about my career.

Madhura_2005 > Hello! How are you Shoma ji ?
Shoma Anand > I am fine, thank you.

Reena > You will be acting with Rishi again, we have heard. What's the name of the film? Has its shooting started? When will the film release? How do you feel acting again with the hero of your first film?
Shoma Anand > Yes, you have heard right. The film is called Love Ke Chakkar Mein . We have finished shooting for the movie. The film should release within 2-3 months. I felt nice acting with Rishi Kapoor again.

Lover > I have seen your many of your films. I'm from Pakistan. You are really beautiful.
Shoma Anand > Thank you so much.

Jgs > Shoma ji , these days we hear so much about the casting couch syndrome. Was this also the case in your time? Did young actresses entering film industry faced indecent proposals from lecherous filmmakers?
Shoma Anand > No, in my time there was nothing like this. The film industry was very clean.

Rahullll > Your acting is marvellous in the serials, Hum Paanch and Shannno Ki Shaadi.
Shoma Anand > Thank you so much.

Dolly > How does it feel like playing mom to five girls who are much older to be playing your daughters?
Shoma Anand > It feels nice, and I love working in Hum Paanch .

Penny > Why did you vanish from films for so many years, only to resurface on TV? Is your hubby also from the film line? What's his occupation? Do you have kids?
Shoma Anand > After my marriage in 1987 I did vanish for seven years because at that time my husband did not allow me to work. And then, my husband was making a movie with Jitu ji (actor Jeetendra Ekta Kapoor's dad) and Vinod Khanna called Janam Kundali . It was then that Jitu ji offered me the role in Hum Paanch, which I accepted. My husband was fine about it as the role was a good one. My husband's name is Tariq Shah. He is a producer -director. I have one daughter whose name is Sarah.

Viva > In real life, if you had brats like your daughters in Hum Paanch at home, how would you manage them? Do you like having such brattish kids around the house?
Shoma Anand > No, I don't like a brat kid. If I had such daughters in real life, it would be hell for me.

Viva > For someone not interested in a film career, when did the acting bug bite you?
Shoma Anand > After the release of Barood, people remarked that I was not a good actress. And they told me that I couldn't become an actress. That used to hurt me. So then, I said to myself that I would become an actress some day.

Diddy > How did you get your first break in Barood ? Did you have any filmy connection?
Shoma Anand > My dad's friend Janki Das (actor), had told him that veteran filmmaker Mr. Pramod Chakraborty (producer-director of Barood ) was looking for a new girl for his film. He advised me to try for the lead role. And he also told me that Rishi Kapoor was selected to be the hero of the film. Just for Rishi Kapoor, I said I would try my luck, and I got the role.

Boom > Why did you choose acting as a career? Where are you from and how did you come into this line? Can you tell us something about your family too, like your dad, siblings, mom, education etc.?
Shoma Anand > I am from Amritsar, Punjab. My dad shifted to Mumbai in 1968. Those days, I used to visit a friend , whose house was located near Shambhu Sen's (music director Samir Sen's dad) house. Shambhu Sen used to teach dance at his house. So then, I too started to learn dance from him. In fact, I was more in to dance. Even today, I love to dance but acting just happened after Barood . My father, my mom, three sisters and one brother make-up the parent side of my family, and I am the youngest. My dad is in to business. I dropped out of college (first year) because of Barood .

Mehra > You are seen mostly doing TV than in films? Do you like the telly more? And, are we going to see you more on TV?
Shoma Anand > I love to do more TV because in films I hardly get the role that I want to play. And in TV, I get to do good (and varied) roles. Like Hum Paanch, and Shanno Ki Shaadi where I am playing a different roles.

Tvline > When did you develop this penchant for doing comedies? You are quite good at it.
Shoma Anand > When they offered me this role in Hum Paanch I told them that I may not be able to do a comedy role. But they told me to try. Thanks to Ekta Kapoor, I have learnt a lot regarding comedy from Ashok Sharf (Anand Mathur in Hum Paanch ), my co-star in Hum Paanch . Thank you.

Higs > When is your birthday? Do you have any hobbies?
Shoma Anand > My birthday is on the 1 st of November. I love to hear ghazals , classical music, watch good movies and do a lot of shopping.

Ambs > How is experience of working with Marathi legend Ashok Saraf?
Shoma Anand > It's very nice working with him. He is a very good actor and a very good human being.

Jili > What is your future plan? Want to direct or produce a film or a serial?
Shoma Anand > I want to direct serials first and then direct films.

Sign Off Message > Thank you very much. Love and pray for me. Love, Shoma Anand.