| Her 1000-watt smile used to light up the television screen and her histrionic skills made her the queen of the small screen. In fact, she was ruling the roost when she decided to give it up to settle into domesticity. Now, Renuka Shahane is back on screen after a five-year hiatus.
Be it the perky Surabhi girl, the grim Maria of Fauji, the dignified Pooja of Kora Kaagaz, the demure wife of Khamoshiyaan Kab Tak or her graceful counselling act in Kashmakash, the actress has explored myriad roles. In an exclusive tte--tte, Renuka talks about her marital life, her sabbatical, and her much discussed comeback. You've simply vanished!
(Laughs) Yes, I have and this has been a part of my plan. Post marriage, I wanted to dedicate my time to my family and myself. I had been working continuously, so taking a break was a conscious decision. You were at the peak of your career when you called it quits. Any regrets?
Not at all. I've been enjoying this phase. I haven't been particularly ambitious and I have worked for a long time. I feel I have got more than I deserved. I needed a break. What is a regular day like for you?
I wake up early in the morning and finish my daily chores. Then I get my kids — four-year-old Shouryaman and two-year-old Satyendra — ready for school. After that, I go through the newspapers, go to the gym and come home and make lunch. I have also been busy writing a script for past three years, which I intend to make a Hindi film. Over these years, the television scenario has changed a lot.
Yes, it has changed drastically. Ab toh dailies ka daur hai. I believe what people like to see is what sells and becomes the trend. With the kind of demanding schedules that dailies have, there's very little room for creativity. It is not possible to churn out ideas every day. But even within this setup, there are directors like Ajai Sinha who don't compromise on quality. But that's difficult and an exception to the rule. Tell us something about your comeback venture.
I am doing a show called Jeete Hain Jiske Liye for Sony. Deeya and Tony Singh (of Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin) will be producing it. The show is still under wraps, so I won't be able to reveal much. You have been associated with progressive and often path-breaking programmes. Do you think you will fit into the saas-bahu sagas?
Right now, I feel like a novice. Whatever work I have done was for weeklies, so a daily show is a new experience for me. It will take me some time adjust myself to the new schedules, especially when I have two young kids. But let me tell you that the character I am playing in Jeete Hain… is certainly not regressive. How supportive has your family been about your comeback?
My husband Ashutosh (Rana) is extremely supportive. I wouldn't have been able to do so, had he not been with me. He and my entire family, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law — all of them have been with me. They are my physical and emotional support. | 
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