“As A Person, I Am A Risk Taker And Believe In Following Your Heart” TINA PHILIP

TINA PHILIP , who is essaying double roles in the popular TV serial Aye Mere Humsafar on Dangal TV tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive interview for Bollyy and Mayapuri that It is very challenging to switch between moods and tones as the housewife Vidhi and the bar dancer Komal Kali

With which serial did you make your debut on TV?

I made my debut in 2017 with Ek Aastha Aisi Bhee. Basically, the story was based on humanity like not believing in religions. Then I did Ek Bhram...Sarvagun Sampanna and now at present I am doing ‘Aye Mere Humsafar’ on Dangal TV. It’s been three years in the industry so far.

In what way do you think you have improved as an actress over the past three years?

I think I have a long way to go and I think I have grown in terms of interacting with different people’s understanding the technicality of watching with my exposure to the camera. I am a Chartered Accountant; I was working in audit but I always wanted to become an actor. I was living in Manchester and when I was a kid, I used to dabble in the theatre. But honestly, TV and theatre are very different so in these past three years, I would say I have grown technically. There is still a long way to go because I keep learning and imbibing from my senior actors and feel blessed for having such a great star cast.

What is the difference between theatre and TV?

Technically it is very different on TV. You have to work on camera while in theatre, on stage so you have to look where the light is and where to stand. The camera always magnifies things. In theatre, you have to work loud so that your acting reaches the people while on theatre, we don’t have the facility of the cut. In TV we get that opportunity to improve and if we fumble, we can get one more take but in theatre, it is not possible. The audience has to fall for your character whether it is theatre or TV. Our sincerity to our works surely gets appreciation. As for working on TV, we have to work daily from Monday to Saturday.

Didn’t coming from a theatre background make you theatrical?

Both are different platforms and I feel blessed I enjoy doing both. In the UK, I have performed in Manchester and London. It was an experimental theatre group where we wrote and performed our own plays. But I didn’t think it made me theatrical. I think it helped me learn the nuances of the craft.

How do you distinguish between the two roles you are playing in Dangal TV’s Aye Mere Humsafar?

It is very challenging to switch between moods and tones. I have been playing Vidhi for 5 months now and all of a sudden I had to play Komal Kali who is a bar dancer who is dynamically so different from Vidhi. She is loud unlike Vidhi who is a typical bahu. I mentally prepared myself and also made some keynotes of what I wanted to do different with my accent and language, etc. But yes, I am very grateful for the opportunities I am receiving. These are completely two different roles that just look alike but have different personalities.

Are you not keen on doing films?

I think everyone who comes to Mumbai comes with the aim of working in films. But I am very grateful and happy with the opportunities I am getting on TV. It is a great foundation. We work really hard. And yes, I want to work in films as well as web series.

How comfortable are you as far as skin show is concerned?

Frankly, I am not that comfortable but I don’t think content is all about that. I feel if that was the case, films like Badhaai Ho, Bareilly Ki Barfi etc would have never made the numbers they managed to make. And I wouldn’t agree to do a show that asks me to expose a lot.

Who are your favorite actors?

I like Pankaj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepak Dobriyal etc, besides Kajol Devgn and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Which are the directors in your wish list?

I would love to work with Anurag Kashyap, Anurag Basu, Rajkumar Hirani etc.

What kind of roles do you want to do?

A very interesting story is important even if my role is small, positive or negative.

In terms of security, isn’t this a very risky field?

It is definitely. My Chartered Accountancy job in UK was a much secured one where I would receive a paycheck every month. But at the end of day, I think it’s best to follow your heart. As a person, I am a risk taker and believe in following your heart. And like I said, I always wanted to become an actor since I was a kid. And one will always do well in the field they choose passionately. In spite of shooting for long hours, I am never tired.

Finally, when you decided to take up acting, were you not scared of the casting couch syndrome?

I had heard a lot about it but honestly that’s where education and maturity helps one. At the end of day, people talk to you the way you talk to them. I have personally never ever experienced the syndrome of the casting couch.