Every woman wants a good sexual and emotional life: Shama Sikander

What is Maaya all about?

Maaya is a very intense adult love story. It is about loving somebody and figuring out how to love your own self. It is about various characters in one person.There are various personalities within us, some our close friends know about, some our family knows and there is always that part which only we know about and no one else.

Speculations are rife that the story is based on Fifty Shades of Grey. True?

Not really. Yes some parts have been taken. You can see the concept of BDSM pictured, but in a different way. It is a love story but with a different angle. It is more intense and more realistic.

How similar is Shama to Maaya?

I guess the only similarity between Maaya and me is that even she has certain part that no one knows about. Even I have my personal things that I would never share with the world. This goes for every human being and so Maaya is not just about me but about everyone.

Would it be right to say it is the story of a common woman?

I feel every woman wants a good life, in every way, be it sexual, emotional or otherwise. They deserve it. Maaya is all about what they want. So there is no need to make ‘sexual’ desires of a woman look scandalous. It is not. It is as natural as loving somebody or eating food or going to sleep. I have not met a single human being who has said that he/she doesn’t like sex. It is a natural phenomenon. We are born out of it. There is nothing bad or dirty about it. If it is so then our whole existence is dirty. I don’t want to call myself dirty. I am a very beautiful human being and so is everyone else.

So you think today’s audience will accept it?

Yes. Today’s audience is craving for it. Why do you think all these internet shows are becoming so huge. The younger generation wants it. If you like it then watch but don’t say ‘yeh bakwaas hai’ because you are the one who is giving views. Don’t be a hypocrite. I see that today’s generation is really liking it. In fact the older people too are changing with time.

How bold will be the sex scenes?

It’s funny to call them as sex scenes or bold scenes because it doesn’t need a tag. It is as natural as the other things you do. You eat food, you go out, you party, you have sex. It is that normal but by putting such words you make it look abnormal, out of this world. So, I don’t think we should use these words. It is a love story for me and it will have scenes according to the requirement of the script. It will surely have some beautiful scenes to which I am really looking forward to shoot.

Is it difficult filming these scenes on sets?

Honestly, there is no big deal in shooting it. The scenes look very sexy once they are shot but when we are shooting we use various techniques and tricks. So there is nothing to worry about. I don’t feel uncomfortable on sets. People are very cooperative and they move out of the room whenever any such scene has to be shot.

Censorship won’t be an issue at least since the web series is for internet users?

Honestly a filmmaker makes a film according to his own belief and vision. Yes, the CBFC should certify movies as ‘A’ or ‘UA’ but they don’t have the right to cut anything. Let the public decide what they want to watch and what they don’t want to. It so happened that at times a director has a particular vision but the outcome is something different because of censorship. The scene is shot in particular manner and conceived in a particular way. If you remove those shots, then there is no scene. Internet that way is great. There is no censorship and people have the right to decide what they want to see.

Are there any upcoming projects?

Yes, I am working on another project but I am not allowed to talk about it. Maaya is coming in October, so I am busy shooting for it. I am meeting a lot of people and I am greatful that I am getting so many opportunities. I am a blessed soul and have been appreciated so far. I give my best to make the character look real. If I take up something then I give 100 per cent.