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Did it surprise you that some people still face the kind of injustices that Phulwa does?
Absolutely. Phulwa’s story is set in modern India,which is supposedly so advanced,but I was shocked to find how feudal some parts of the country still are. Hum is being shot in Sitamarhi in Bihar,which looks like it belongs to some bygone era and it completely took me by surprise how backward it is.

You’ve been in the television industry for many years and have done a variety of roles. Which one stands out the most in your memory?
It’s a little hard to say,because all the roles offered to me have been so good. In recent memory,though,my role in Balika Vadhu as a teacher who fights against child marriage,was a difficult role to do. It was also physically grueling because we shot in Rajasthan and it was very hot there.

You were invited to the Emmy Awards once when you were acting in Humrahi. Has anything ever matched that high?
Not at all. That was such a prestigious invitation. The committee had been looking at social dramas from around the world,and they selected Humrahi from India and from Humrahi they selected me. It was such an honour.

You’ve played a child bride in Humrahi,an activist-teacher in Balika Vadhu and now a young woman fighting against her husband’s killers. Do you find that you’re only offered a certain kind of complex role?
Yes,that’s very true. Producers write these layered roles and then approach me saying that I only I can do justice to them. It’s definitely flattering. I myself am only attracted to roles like that. So it works out well.

But with the one-dimensional characters on television these days,do you think you can still get what you’re used to? I agree that at one point the characters were unappealing and there are still those typical soaps on television. But I’ve managed to survive in television for so long and I’m quite picky about my roles. That shows that good roles are still out there.

You’ve been active in theatre and your stint in movies,especially in Raghu Romeo,have been appreciated. Will you ever leave television for the stage or the big screen?
I always say that I’m an actor first,the medium comes second. But that said,television is what has made me famous,so it will always be special.