From Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki(KGGK) to Bade Achche Lagte Hain(BALH) it’s been quite a journey?
Yes, I can’t believe I’ve survived in this kal-aaya-aaj-gaya business for so long! Earlier the content and characters were more aspirational.The content has now become more relatable than before. Earlier when I played the Bahu Parvati in KGGK I felt I was much larger than life. People would say, this is what an ideal wife bahu and mother should be. Today when I’m playing Priya in BALH people , men and women, come to me saying they can identify with my character. I think today there is content for everyone , urban and non-urban.
Do you now get addressed in public as ‘Parvati’ or ‘Priya’?
Neither, People have started to recognize me as Sakshi. That’s a huge triumph victory for me. For years I was called ‘Parvati.’
Was that annoying?
No. It was as ‘Parvati’ that I attained an identity. Before that no on knew who ‘Sakshi’ was. Then for 2 ½ years I took a sabbatical . I refused to do the serials that were offered to me after KGGK. They were extensions of Parvati.Believe me, that moment when I said ‘no’ used to be really difficult. There was good money and visibility...But I had to be strong. Or I’d have played extensions of Pravati all my life.Instead I chose to return with Crime Petrol and a negative role in Balika Badhu.And when I saw the serials I turned down finally on air, I’d be relieved I didn’t do them.
Did you get flak for your negative role in Balika Badhu?
Oh, lots ! I was slammed. My fans kept hoping till the last that my character would reform. But my colleagues congratulated me. I’d be ever-grateful to the makers of Balika Badhu for thinking of me for the role. The channel wasn’t even sure I’d say yes. But hwne it was offered within two days I was shooting for it.And it was a wonderful experience. I got to work with a legend like Surekha Sikriji.I learnt so much from her.
What did you do during your 2 ½ years sabbatical?
I assisted a friend from behind the camera in a show on Doordarshan ina serial called Samman. I was the creative director in the serial. I must say that stint really helped me evolve as a human being.Some day I’d like to take up direction.
You and Smriti Irani were like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil on television. Were you openly rivals?
We were the protagonists in the two most popular soaps, me in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and she in Kyunki...Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. But there was space for both of us.I just met her recently.We laughed over old times. People see us as arch-rivals. But we were never that.She is a terrific person. She is very down-to-earth. Today’s actresses are far more competitive.Smriti and I were neck-to-neck in competition.But we never felt we were rivals.When I bump into my seniors like Deepak Qazir, Neena Kulkarni, Aroona Irani,Surekha Sikri...I acknowledge and greet them. But when I bump into younger actresses they don’t even smile at me. They probably feel I am a rival.It’s weird. I’ve been around for 13 years .And I am still competition!!
Your co-star Ram Kapoor thinks television industry has become more disciplined?
I think discipline is an individual choice. If you choose to be disciplined you can be so even in a disorganized environment. Having said that...I must say the television industry has changed for the better. Nowadays we actors work 12 hours .And that’s only fair.Earlier it was endless hours. It’s a comfortable situation now. But those who want to be undisciplined would continue to be so regardless of what the conditions. Even now there are impossible deadlines to be achieved for episodes. When that happens, one has to do what has to be done.
So you still continue to put in the same hours?
Had I not worked so hard I wouldn’t have lasted so long. When I see the new generations of actors crib about working for 8-9 hours I am amused and exasperated. We used to be so passionate about our work.We’d never abandon the work for the next day. The episode had to be completed even if we had to work through the night.
Do you feel disconnected from the current generation of actors?
See, KGGK was on air for eight years .We were all young and starting out on our careers together. We were all equally passionate about the serial. There was no sense of oneupmanship or rivalry among us. None of us ever felt, ‘Mera scene nahin hai toh main kyon time doon?’ .We’d all be there for every scene and make sure the episodes came out as well as possible.The product was supreme.And though the content was often hard to believe,we’d still make it as natural as possible. I’ve spent more time with the cast and crew of KGGK than I did with my own family during those eight years. The serial is done. But I’m still in touch with each and every member of the cast.They’re like my extended family.
And today when you do BALH?
They are far more ruthlessly ambitious.If an actor’s track doesn’t take off he or she immediately quits the show and moves on. Earlier we were so involved with our serial that even if our track didn’t develop we’d refuse to leave.That level of attachment to the product is missing in present day actors.
Are there any current actresses who you think have that spark to last as long as you and Smriti?
I like Kritika Kamra of Kuch Toh Log Kahenge and Sriti Jha of Balika Badhu.These are the names that come to my mind.
You never treated television as a stepping stone to cinema like other tv actors?
Television is where my roots are. I love the medium.It has given me everything that I have today.I only wanted to do good roles.
So has the ideal Bahu screen found her match in real life?
I am very much single. I haven’t found anyone I want to marry. Normally people find love. But in my case I feel love has to find me.I feel your birth, marriage and decided are pre-ordained. I totally believe in the institution of marriage. In my family I’ve seen many successful marriages. I’m open to an arranged marriage.I am ready for marriage. But is marriage ready for me?
By Subhash K Jha