New role for prime-time face

She can be called the face of pre-prime-time television. The 25-year-old ex-corporate woman who has worked as an HR junior in a few companies before making her debut in serials last year is playing the lead character of an 18-year-old collegian Sanchi in Ruk Jana Nahin.

The show is only eight weeks old but it is already a slot leader at 6.30 pm which is considered a difficult non-prime-time band. But Pooja says good content works at any time slot. "Earlier, the general assumption was that people don't watch TV at 7 pm. But the success of Saath Nibhana Saathiya proved everyone wrong. Similarly, the 6.30 pm slot is said to be difficult because all earlier shows in the slot like Mati Ki Bano and Bhangowali didn't get good response. But Ruk Jana Nahin is getting good ratings. So, obviously, if the story is good it can work in any time slot," she reasons.

Talking about the story and her role Pooja says, "The show is based in Varanasi and deals with the story of a girl who has lived a sheltered life. But when she steps out of the security of her home, she realises that she can't always win through the confrontation in the male-dominated society. She decides to win people with her intelligence and presence of mind." Playing an 18-year-old is not a problem for her because she looks much younger.

But getting a break in serials was a tough task for Pooja. Encouraged by her mother to try her luck in acting, her first audition was very bad. "But I fared better in my second audition for a Swastik Pictures' show and was made to attend a workshop. The serial didn't happen but I got to learn bit of acting," says Pooja. She made her TV debut in Mrs and Mr Allahabadwale last year. The show shut down within three months and Pooja was again back to giving auditions and got selected to play the lead in Ruk Jana Nahi.

Comparing herself to the character, Pooja says she is not much different from Sanchi. "I am both vulnerable and strong. I speak a lot, crack jokes, get angry easily and love to dress well. But I don't manipulate and don't use my brain as much as Sanchi does," she laughs.