‘Judging is a thankless job’-Sheeba

A good mix of glitz, glamour and talent, Sheeba started her film career in 1991 in Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi. She did many more films after that but didn't really hit the big league of Bollywood heroines and instead settled down in matrimonial bliss. A few years ago, she was seen on television in Karishma – The Miracle of Destiny, which was produced by her husband and which also marked the debut of Karisma Kapur on television. Now Sheeba returns to television again in Ravi Chopra's new daily Sujata.

"I was getting several offers but there was nothing really interesting that I could take a call on. My first priority was my family and I didn't want to get busy with something that I couldn't relate to. I really couldn't see myself playing a saas or bahu," she explains. Was Sujata interesting enough for her return on television then? "Absolutely," she shoots back. A mature story of a woman in the autumn of her life who finds herself alone despite being the building block of her family, the show also tells the story of two other women, Roshni and Shaila. Roshni is a successful businesswoman and is indeed Sujata's and Shaila's biggest anchor and strength. Needless to say, Sheeba plays Roshni.

"I had heard all the three roles but quite instinctively chose to play Roshni because I could identity with the character. She is a strong woman and lives life on her own terms. Roshni is carefree, fun loving and believes in taking each day as it comes," says Sheeba who describes herself as a blend of tradition and modernity. "I like to maintain a perfect balance between traditional values and modern thinking. Modernity doesn't mean rubbishing family values and traditions. And tradition doesn't mean you have to suffer at the cost of your identity and self respect."

Elaborating further on the role, Sheeba says Roshni has had a bad experience in the past and does not want to get into a relationship, nor does she believe in the institution of marriage. "She loves her pug and talks to it. She even cooks for the dog. But her doors are closed when it comes to a relationship. There is a guy who is interested in her but Roshni is happy being alone and prefers her independence," she explains.

Sheeba says she has no problem in doing television serials. "But the role has to be interesting and exciting enough," she adds. Since she is committed to Sujata which will keep her busy for at least 15 days in a month, she has no window open for another TV show. But she is considering some film offers. "I am already committed to a Bhojpuri film called International Daroga where I am playing Shatrughan Sinha's wife. Besides, I am reading a few Hindi film scripts," she says. It seems for sure that Sheeba is keen on working more and is looking for interesting offers, be it serials or films.

"I think television is slowly coming out of the saas-bahu phase. As for films, there are lots of opportunities for actresses of my age. I can't play the heroine but fortunately the kind of films being made today have good roles for actors of all ages. I don't mind doing a four-scene character as long as it is an important part of the narrative," she explains. With more and more film celebrities joining the reality TV bandwagon, you can't help asking her whether she is open to doing reality TV.

"Reality TV doesn't interest me much," she quips. "I wouldn't like to judge a show because I feel judging is a thankless job. But I wouldn't mind hosting a show."

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