Prachi likes to work on her own terms

She is a trained Kathak dancer. She not only does regular professional dance shows but also conducts dance classes for a group of students at her home. Meet Prachi Shah, perhaps the only actress on television, who works solely on her own terms. "Dance is my first priority," says Prachi whose second priority apparently is her husband. No wonder she doesn't work on Sundays. And on weekdays she shoots only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. What's more, even Ekta has agreed to her condition because her association with Balaji is as old as Ekta's first prime time blockbuster show Kyunki... Till her marriage a year ago, Prachi says she used to work a lot. "I have done double shifts, worked in the night, packed up early morning and returned to the sets in the evening. But I can't do it anymore. Ekta understands my problem and she has agreed to my condition of working only for 12 hours," says Prachi.

Having started her career with Kahin Diya Jale Kahin Jiya, her first show with Balaji was Kundali. But almost simultaneously she started doing Kyunki and since then Balaji has become her professional home. "It's an emotional attachment," she says though she admits that there is pressure when you do two dailies. Six months ago Prachi replaced the tantrum-spewing Nan-dini Singh as the protagonist of Kesar and now she is doing Balaji's new show Kayamath. "I couldn't say no to Ekta," she confesses.

Another reason for doing Kayamath is the role. "It's a nice role of a sweet, simple and innocent wife, bahu and mother who has an excellent understanding with her husband. Aarti is not a weak woman but she will never take a decision without her husband's consent, unlike Kesar who is a very strong woman and has totally control over her life," she adds. "What I like about these shows is that they are value-based stories and the two families they revolve around have come up the hard way."

Prachi is satisfied with the way her career has shaped up. "It has been an excellent journey. I want to do good work. But I also want to live good life by giving myself enough time to be with my husband and family."