Reem Shaikh, who plays Kalyani Deshmukh Rane in
Tujhse Hai Raabta, might be just 16, but the actress is a powerhouse of talent and clear about what she wants. She started off as a child artist at the tender age of 6 and got her first break in television show,
Neer Bhare Tere Naina Devi, in 2010. There has been no looking back for her ever since. In a candid chat with the TimesOfIndia.com, Reem spoke about her on-screen character, romancing her co-star
Sehban Azimand her bold pictures on Instagram. Excerpts...
You are 16 and play a relatively older character on-screen. How do you get into the headspace of Kalyani, considering you have no experience of it?
Honestly, I have never had any difficulties playing Kalyani. People also say that I have a certain level of maturity at a very young age. When you genuinely love to act and know your character well, you don't face any problems. I am well-versed with the role.
There is an age gap between you and your co-star on screen, Sehban Azim. How is your equation with him on set?
We are great friends, I would say. We get along really well. In the beginning, I knew he was older. But we both are very similar. We are reserved and like similar kind of music. The two of us laugh off our romantic scenes. When you know it's acting and you are doing it for the camera, there's no awkwardness. Rather than me accepting him as my co-actor, even though he is a little older than me, people have accepted us, and that is a big deal for me. I want to thank fans who love Kal-ma (Kalyani-Malhar).
Lastyear
Jannat Zubair
refused to kiss on-screen. Do you inform the makers that you won't do intimate scenes or are you comfortable with the idea?
Jannat is a good friend of mine. We've known each other for a long time, since we both are child actors. I respect her and it is her point of view that she doesn't want to do it. Every person has a different way of looking at things. If she is not comfortable with a kissing scene, I respect her from the bottom of my heart. It is her choice. I have not come across such a situation till now. But honestly, if my parents are comfortable then I don't care what other people would think. I am sure if my makers are writing anything like that, they would ask me beforehand, and everything would depend on my answer.
Considering you are playing a wife, and a stepmother on the show already, do you think it would limit your opportunities going further.
I don't look at it that way. The character I am doing apparently got married at a young age. And that's what the story is all about. She is an 18-year-old, has the responsibility of a step son and gets married to a guy who doesn't love her. Moreover, she loses her parents and lives in a house where no one loves her. That's the story of Kalyani. It is the story which required Kalyani to get married early. There could be similar stories as well, but I don't see it limiting my opportunities.
How you dress on-screen is completely different from the pictures you post otherwise on Instagram. How do your fans react?
My personal life is very different from Kalyani's. On Instagram, I am true to my fans. They deserve to know who I am because I want them to love me for that. I agree to the fact that I post a lot of bold pictures, and some pictures where people say, 'what is that, she is just 16'. I don't want to pretend to be a good girl for the world. If my parents don't have a problem with me wearing short clothes while going out with friends for clubbing, then the rest is irrelevant. What my parents think of me, matters the most to me. I want fans to know the real me. I don't want to show just the 'good' side, and I don't think there's any harm in going to the club in short clothes. My main agenda is to portray who I am. If I am not hiding anything from my parents, then why would I hide it from the world?
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