TOI: Theatre is sacred-Jayati

Theatre is sacred,but TV helps me run my house

Jayati Bhatia,whos played the good,the bad and the ugly talks of the television industry and more

Roshni K Olivera

You started as a positive stern grandmother on Colors Sasural Simar Ka,but have now become very conniving and negative...


Mataji was always a very diplomatic woman who ruled her home and business with an iron fist! Her word was law,but she also believed in fair play.However,the lies and deception and the whole marriage fiasco shook her.Shaadi mein kisiko bhi ghunghat mein apni jagah bithaa do aur phir dil ka rishta keh kar us shaadi ko jhutla do! So from her perspective,shes right.Also her position was questioned for the first time and power and ego make people blind! So heres the character analysis that Im giving (laughs).

In recent times weve only seen you play negative roles.Isnt that the problem with TV where actors are easily slotted in particular kind of roles


I was totally negative as Gursheel in Sabki Ladli Bebo and now my character is bordering on the grey in Sasural Simar Ka.I have been working for the last 14 years and have never been slotted in a particular kind of role.I have done main leads,comedy,spiritual (Sufi),positive and negative roles.Today,its very difficult to find a wellrounded character,so you take up the best from what you are being offered.I sincerely hope that the next character I play is nothing like I have ever done before.Fingers crossed!

What about theatre Your one woman play is back...


We have a show of Khatijabai of Karmali Terrace in March.Its a one actor play where Khatija creates and brings alive a number of characters from her life.She has Alzheimers,so she keeps jumping the sequences in her life from the age of 9 to 75.I just love her survival instinct,its so real.Each one in the audience reacts to her because they have met her kind or are like her.

Television or theatre... how different are the two and what do you prefer
I am an actor,a performer and for me the

medium doesnt matter.I enjoy both.But yes,theatre is sacred for me and TV helps me run my house and keep the passion for theatre alive.