Actress Prachi Desai's mother escorts her to the sets all the time
Vickey Lalwani
vickey.lalwani@mid-day.com
She is being talked about more than Smriti Iraani, Sakshi Tanwar, Shweta Tiwari and Aamna Shariff. Perhaps, her mother's presence on the sets is her lucky charm. Prachi Desai (Bani of Ekta Kapor's Kasamh Se) is escorted on the sets by her mother 24/7.
Mummy Amita defends her daughter, who is not only new in Mumbai, but she is just 17 years old. "Woh bahut choti hai. I need to be with her."
'I need my mom'
Prachi endorses, "I need my mother around me. Sometimes, I feel very lonely when the main actors are absent. We are just the two of us at our apartment. What's the sense in leaving her at home alone and venturing out to shoot?"
Hesitant at first
Prachi's mother is honest to admit that their family was apprehensive when Prachi decided to take the plunge in the TV industry. "She always wanted to become an actor. When her dream finally came true, instead of coming in her way, I decided, 'why not come down with her and be with her until she is old enough to take care of herself?' My husband is presently in Surat."
"Had it been films, we would have put our foot down. Itni stories suni hai film industry ke baare mein, darr lagta hai. At the end of the day, we Desais are still a conservative lot," the concerned mother admits candidly.
Nervous duo
So, was the mother nervous when her daughter had to do a lovemaking scene with Ram Kapoor (Jai Walia)? "I was nervous," says Prachi. Her mother says, "Which 17-year old wouldn't be? But it went off beautifully. What you saw on television is quite an exaggerated version, courtesy the camera work. Ram takes great care of her. They have a big age difference between them."
Mrs Desai refrains from being controversial. Asked about Bani's popularity having made Tulsi (Smriti Iraani) insecure, she says rather diplomatically, "Meri beti Tulsi ke samne kuch nahin hai. Tulsi has a universal following." Prachi chips in, "I have so much to learn from Smritiji. These comparisons are unfair and baffling."
Prachi has not completed her twelfth standard yet. She was supposed to appear for her exams in May when Kasamh Se happened. While her mother wishes that Prachi will appear for the exams in October, Prachi says, "I will appear in March 2007." Prachi also intends doing her BA in Psychology via correspondence.
Car seva
The mother-daughter duo stay in Raheja Classique, Andheri. "We normally shoot at Sakinaka, which is not too far away. But recently, we bought a car. I bought a Swift because we are just the two of us, and I didn't want to maintain a huge vehicle. It is not tough to commute either way, but at times, it is difficult to reach a given destination in time when the unit shifts from one location to another. Now, however, things will be easy. I wish I were 18. Then, I wouldn't need a driver to zip, zap and zoom," Prachi signs off with a laugh.
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