Success changes many things - Article

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Rajshree (TOI Photo)

Rajshree Thakur is used to perfection.


After playing an affectionate wife and a caring daughter and bahu in Saat Phere , she suddenly has to contend with a turnaround in the script which has drawn out darker shades in her character.

"I knew that my character was very popular with audiences throughout the country and that they had got used to seeing me in a very positive light. While there has been a feedback in which people have asked for the serial to return to its original track, they have also reasoned it out that there must be a reason why I am shown behaving so," says Rajshree.

Is she afraid of being typecast as the good girl of television? "While I appreciate the fact that playing Saloni has brought me immense fame and goodwill, I would rather have my audience remember me as Rajshree Thakur, the actress. There's obviously life beyond Saloni and I am keen to explore other aspects of television," she chips in.

She strongly feels, "if Shah Rukh Khan could do a negative character in Darr and still emerge as a super hero, it underlines that fact that actors are versatile people and the more they explore characters and scripts, they experience growth."

She points out that she has been a newsreader once and that she would like to "anchor talk shows in the future. I also like reality television and would especially like to explore a music based show."

But perhaps the most fascinating part of Rajshree's acting career is that she has emerged as an idol for many Indian women who carry the burden of being 'dark skinned.' "I know that it is a very real issue to reckon with. Pick up any matrimonial page of a newspaper and you will never find an advertisement which asks for a 'lovely, dusky girl.' It's always a 'fair skinned bride.' Before I tasted success with Saat Phere, I had gone through many auditions in which I was politely told that I suited the role but for my dark skin," reveals Rajshree.

Does television still function in the dark ages? "Success changes a lot of things. But yes, you wouldn't find many dusky girls playing the lead. I was refused work in spite of having a good portfolio and screen presence because of my skin colour. Of course, it's a different story now but in that sense I can relate to those thousands of young girls in India who are directed towards fairness lotions and magic cures," says Rajshree.

At the moment though, Rajshree has had enough of adulation and yearns for spending time with her husband and in-laws. "Acting in a daily soap leaves you with very little time for anything else. If I have a free hour, I love to be home, eat home cooked food and be with my husband and his family." One more point in common with her screen avtar? "Yes, it seems so!," laughs Rajshree.