Youre back on television after quite a break. Tell us about your new show,Ram Milaayi Jodi,on Zee TV. Its the story of a Punjabi family and a Gujarati family and what happens when two different cultures meet. The hero is Gujarati and hes been brought up in a strict,conservative environment where emphasis is on discipline and punctuality. He falls in love with a Punjabi girl whos full of life and has been brought up in an environment of boisterousness and joviality. And youre playing the Gujarati mother? Im the backbone of the family. Shes suffered a lot for the family and they respect her for it. Shes a disciplinarian,but not a bad person. She shares a very special bond with her son. Are you like that in real life? Im quite particular about discipline and punctuality. Of course,I was brought up in a conservative Gujarati family,so the backgrounds are similar. However,my family was far more liberal. We were kept in check till we were 18 years old and had proved our worth,and then we were given more freedom. Youve done diverse roles,but youre best known for more glamorous portrayals. What attracted you to this character? Actually,Ive done a non-glamorous role before in Buniyaad,which is when I started my television career. But this show isnt simplistic. The writers of Ram Milaayi Jodi have made each character believable given them backgrounds,grey shades. You entered the industry at a time when it was beginning to expand and did some iconic shows like Buniyaad,Chandrakanta,A Mouthful of Sky. What changes do you see now? There is certainly a lot more money now. What the girls earn these days in a year,we used to make in six years. Since theres a pressure of working in dailies,the quality on all counts is sacrificed. Which was the most satisfying phase of your career? That was the time when I was working on Chandrakanta,where I was playing four different roles good and evil which helped explore a whole range of emotions,and I was also hosting Superhit Muqabla. But youd decided to quit the industry when you were at the peak of your career. Have you regretted that? People told me I was foolish to do so. But by the time Chandrakanta was done,my daughter was 10 years old and I felt the need to spend more time with her. I also needed a break. Sometimes I do think that if I hadnt quit,I wouldve been three steps ahead of where I am right now. But Ive never regretted my decision. Besides,the work was thinning out in quality. If I cant do justice to my work,then I would rather not do it.
