Interview:Akangsha Rawat

Q: First tell us what's your role in Solhah Singaarr?

The story is based in Varanasi. I am playing the lead role of Meera. Sudha Chandran is playing my grandmother. Mrinal Kulkarni is my mother and Arun Saxena is portraying my father. I am very carefree and careless. You can call me a livewire, one that's full of life.

Q: So has the serial been shot in Varanasi?

Yes, a major part has been shot there. All the outdoors have been shot there, while the rest are being shot in Mumbai.

Q: According to you, what's so unique in the story of Solhah Singaarr?

First of all, it's not a saas-bahu family drama. It is based on the beautiful relationship between a mother and a daughter. It shows the different stages and different shades of the mother-daughter relationship. After a long time, you would be able to see Sudha Chandran in a positive role. I think even Mrinal Kulkarni is playing a grey character for the first time. Like Meera was devoted to Lord Krishna, I am devoted to my mother. And strangely my mother takes undue advantage of my devotion and sacrifice for her.

Q: What have you done before this soap?

I have done a lot of commercials. I have shot a commercial with Amitabh Bachchan for Dabur.

Q: How did you bag this role?

I had auditioned for Sahara for some other serial long time back. Thank God, they decided to store my tape. Jay Mehta and Sahara were looking for a Meera, when the Sahara people spotted my tape. Then I was recommended to Jay Mehta.

Q: Can you tell us something about your background?

I'm a Garhwali. But I was born and bought up in Delhi. After that I came to Mumbai for higher education. I post-graduated in advertisement and marketing from St Xavier's College. Alongside I also did a lot of modelling. During that time I thought about acting, too.

Q: How is your rapport with the costars?

Everything has been good. Mrinal Kulkarni who's playing my mom is really motherly by nature. Sudha Chandran and Arun Saxena have also helped me in enhancing my acting abilities. Two guys will be seen opposite me, out of which I have shot with one guy, Pankaj Badra, who's playing Shlok. He has become my best friend. The other hero of the serial is Karan Singh.

Q: What's your experience working with Jay Mehta's production house?

So far it's been very good. They have been very cooperative and helpful.

Q: Has your life changed after taking on a daily soap?

Tremendously. I don't have any time for entertainment in my life. As the telecast date is coming nearer, we shoot for almost 16 hours a day to create a bank of episodes. I hardly get three-four hours' sleep. The only entertainment our team gets is by gossiping and talking on the sets. Pankaj [Badra] plays a very important role in entertaining us. Other then being an actor, he's a music composer too. He sings and plays some new music on his guitar.

Q: Are you thinking about any other projects?

Not at this moment. Right now, I am just concentrating on Solhah Singaarr. Maybe in the future, if I get a weekly or a daily, where I am not required much, I would consider taking on another project.

Q: Shows on Sahara have not done well compared to other channels. Do you have fear of this show too not being received well?

Sahara also realises that their shows aren't doing well. They have planned out elaborate strategies to solve this problem. The channel now is planning to showcase six new shows. I was considered for three of those shows, so I know that the shows have got all the potential to do well. They have done a lot of research on what exactly people want to see on TV. Even Zee wasn't doing well before Saat Phere and Kasamh Se. The new concepts of Sahara are certainly unique. We can just cross our fingers and hope for the best. I have also been a marketing student. So I very well know that we can only give our best, but everything isn't in our hands.