Article--Parul aka Ragini--What’s colour.

What do you think of this whole fair versus dark issue? Discrimination on the basis of colour is still an issue in small towns.. and cities too. Many parents still want a fair bride for their son. But will a good-looking girl take care of the family? Have you ever been snubbed because you're dusky? My grandmother had berated my mother for delivering a daughter and a dusky one at that. She wondered who would marry me? What about your dad? (Smiles) He dotes on me. He got a huge reward soon after my birth. He's been saying ever since that Laxmi has come home. Isn't Sapna Babul Ka.. Bidaai Sooraj Barjatya's Vivah rehashed? The basic plot is the same but our show moves beyond the colour issue. It's about what happens after marriage. Vivah was a three-hour movie. Ours is an on-going serial. Didn't you want to start out with some- thing more trendy? Sapna Babul Ka... is life as it is. It's very real, unlike most of the saas bahu shows on air. I am a lot like Ragini. I'm a small town girl too. After growing up in Lucknow, Mumbai must have been a culture shock? I like Mumbai. People are so much more liberal. Back home if you were spotted speaking to a guy even casual- ly, it would blow into a major scandal. Luckily my folks don't pay attention to such mischief-making comments. How has your family reacted to the show? Earlier, most of my relatives would look down on me because I was dark. But now they wait to see my show. They're always gushing over me. It hurts to see how success, changes the attitude of even those who're close to you. What about fans? (Smiles) Recently a kid shot with me. After the shoot the entire mohallah wanted to be my friend. It was so sweet! Do you get along with your co-star, Sara Khan ? Sara and I are like real sisters. Have you ever used a fairness cream? I have and they do help. But the effect wears off as soon as you stop using them. They are also very expen- sive and many young girls have to compromise on essentials to buy them. Eventually, they only make you a shade lighter. They don't turn you fair and lovely in a week as is hyped.