Article--Saloni-Rajshree--I remind him of

For the first time, another soap Dulhann has overtaken Saat Phere as Zee's numero uno. You must be really upset? TRPs have never bothered me. Often they are contra- dictory to public opinion. Moreover, each show has its ups and downs, its reasons for being where it is on the charts. So, how is Saat Phere doing? It's rocking! When I see oth- er shows, I realise how for- tunate I am to be playing a character with so many dif- ferent shades. What is your take on your rival Divyanka Tripathi in Dulhann? I think she is a good actress and has effortlessly slipped under the skin of the character. We are good friends. Dulhann is moving into the next birth. Would you want Naahar and Saloni to be reborn too? There is no scope for rein- carnation in Saat Phere. Besides, I cannot digest something as illogical as a plastic surgery or punar janam. But wasn't Saloni bitten by a vishkanya once? (Thoughtfully) We got a good response to that episode. I think the creative team knows best and beyond a point, we actors don't have the right to ques- tion them. However, more often than not, Saat Phere is a very real soap. Yet, Saloni and Naahar always go to bed well dressed . (Smiles) That is a creative liberty all soaps take. View- ers don't like to see protag- onists looking anything but their best. How do you explain Saloni wearing a saree on a Goa beach? (Laughs) Come on now, Saloni comes from small town.. what would she know of capris? Saat Phere recently did a take on Cindrella. Did you enjoy it? As a kid, Cinderella fasci- nated me and I loved play- ing the character. I think Bhabho looked really cute and so did the evil women with their long nails- Kaveri, Jiji and Kuki kaki. Would you do an item number in an Ekta Kapoor show? I'm not comfortable doing item numbers. But a special appearance is always wel- come although my contract does not permit me to do serials on other channels. Hasn't Saloni become a little fair post marriage? Yes, when the show started, I was told to make myself two shades darker. Eventu- ally, the colour was toned down. This happened when she was getting married. Peo- ple accepted that since Saloni was now happier and therefore glowing. It's been a year since you took your saat phere with Sanjyot. How did you celebrate your anniversary? We went to Dubai. Although I hate traveling, I enjoyed the trip because we could spend time together. Does your husband like your cooking? (Blushes) My mother-in-law had told me that he hates vegetarian food. But the day I cooked a vegetarian meal, Sanjyot ate every- thing on his plate. He also loves the chicken which I cook for him. Do you go grocery shopping or to the fish market and bar- gain? Whenever I get the time I do. My in-laws are scared of sending me to the fish mar- ket fearing that I will be mobbed. When I bargain, onlook- ers wonder why is Saloni bargaining.. Even the ven- dor says, "kya madam, aap Saloni ho kar bhaav kar rahi hai?" (Laughs) Often the laun- dry guy recognises a dress from one of my interviews in the papers. Don't you feel guilty about not spending much time with your family? My in-laws knew about my profession much before my marriage. They have been very supportive. I'm fortunate to have such an understanding saas and sasur . Do they comment on your show? They keenly follow my seri- al and offer their opinion. I remember my father-in-law saw the sequence in which Saloni was drunk, he told me I reminded him of Meena Kumari in Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam. (Smiles) My mother-in- law was also surprised that I managed to pull it off so well without having any daaru.