Sari,miss

Sari, Miss

Do you like Tara's look in Saat Phere? Well, a burnt sari did the trick

Reena Thapar Kapoor

It's not unusual for actors to want to look different from the rest of the brigade. But different need not always mean picture-perfect, as actress Ashlesha Sawant recently learnt.

Ashlesha played Teesha in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. This time, the actress was getting ready to audition for a plum role in the serial Saat Phere. Being a popular show, Ashlesha didn't want to take any chances. "I was keen on playing the role of Tara in Saat Phere. Since this character hails from a royal family, I had to look impeccable," says Ashlesha.

So she put together all that would be needed to make her look the perfect 'Tara'—an elegant well-dressed woman. "I organised the make-up, the jewellery, the shoes and most importantly the outfit," says Ashlesha. "I wanted to wear a sari that would make people sit up and take notice. I even bought a sari worth Rs 2000 to wear for the audition. I handed that sari over to my spot boy and asked him to iron it."

However, Ashlesha was in for a rude surprise when the spot boy told her that the sari had been burnt while ironing. "The pallu was burnt and it had a big hole. Since I had no other option, I decided to wear the same sari but in a way that would hide the burnt area," she says. "So, instead of taking the pallu over my shoulder, I wore it seedha pallu, across the front. I thought it looked weird but I didn't want anyone to know about the blunder."

Again, the actress was in for a surprise, and a pleasant one at that, as the production unit applauded her for her new look. "I thought they came to know about the goof-up and were pulling a fast one on me," says Ashlesha. But the production team signed Ashlesha for the role. And ever since, Ashlesha calls her spot boy, her stylist-cum-costume designer. "But I don't want him to burn any more saris!" she says.