'I couldn't keep playing a ....'-Karishma

Karishma Tanna fears getting stagnated and wants to experiment with roles... even if it's that of a psycopath!

NICOLE DASTUR

She was the bubbly, always-questioning, intellectually slow Indu of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. After making her mark on the small screen with this overly-positive character, Karishma Tanna has now moved on to darker territory. Currently playing a negative role in Sony's Ek Ladki Anjani Si, Karishma is glad to be doing something different. "I'll always be attached to Indu, after all, it was a character that got me instant recognition, not to mention the popularity of Kyunki.... But I couldn't just keep playing a comic bimbette, I had to move on. An actor needs to constantly grow, and in order to do that, he/she needs to do different roles," says Karishma.
So was it difficult getting out of Indu's shadow? "It was difficult to get out of Indu's mould. I went through a frustrating period where I was only offered similar roles," says Karishma.
While she's still getting her grip on television, Karishma's enjoying her simultaneous love affair with theatre. After acting in a love comedy — Vandana Sajnani's A Perfect Wedding — she's now gearing up for her second play A Knotty Affair. "It's funny, but I always used to avoid theatre. I don't know what made me agree to do Perfect Wedding. I guess it was the script." But Karishma's enjoying her stint with the stage. "On TV, your best performance is portrayed. But on stage, you can't afford to think of anything else except your lines and your acting. You've got to be perfect the first time, and even if you're not, the show has to go on! Theatre really grills and trains an actor," feels Karishma.
And what is this multi-tasker's dream role? "I'd love to play a psycopath, something like Urmila in Ek Haseena Thi. Even a detective's role would be interesting," smiles Karishma. After theatre and TV, is Bollywood on the cards? "Why not? If I get a good role and a good story, I'm ready for Bollywood."
While all seems to be going well on the professional front, what's happening about her personal life? (she's been linked with Eijaz Khan and Nikhil Arya). "Next question please," says Karishma. On further probing, the actor laughs, "I know it's a said-to-death line, but Nikhil and I are really 'just good friends'. People keep linking me up with men when nothing is going on! I'm sure when I do get a boyfriend, nobody will take me seriously!"