Rani Returns

How do you revive sagging TRPs of a show whose lucky mascot has been shipped out for reasons of age or other? Get her back into the show,albeit in another avtar. “People were losing interest so the channel got me back into the project,” reasons Ulka Gupta,who played the little Laxmibai,alias Manu,in Jhansi ki Rani on Zee TV and was replaced by a senior actor playing the grown up part and has now been signed back in. She was in Lucknow on Tuesday. “Ever since the promos have begun to announce my return,I am told the viewers’ interest has renewed and they are keeping a tab,” says the 14-year-old Class X student,who will now be seen as Kaali,a militant Adivasi girl,who steps into guard the queen during her exile. Kaali,who? For all the history we have read, Rani Laxmibai is known to have been fiercely indepent,to the extent that it is said she got killed because she trusted none for her security but herself. “I am just a girl…I think the creative team could answer these questions better,” said the actor,not betraying any signs of being fettered. But from the creative team there was none,instead,there was Gagan Gupta,Ulka’s father,a wannabe actor who could never make it as big as his daughter.

“Education doesn’t matter. There are so many who have passed MSc,but wander jobless. My daughter—given her age—has bought a Rs 1.5-crore flat in Malad,Mumbai,” said the father,making a profound statement on the value of education. “She can earn now and study later,or at any time in her life.”

Another project in the offing was a biopic on UP CM Mayawati,in which Ulka was to play the younger part.

“The project was to begin from March 12,but there is no news yet. For now,I am happy and focusing on playing Kali,” says the actress,who actually aspires to be a cinematographer.