From TV's 'Sanskari Bahu' to a 'Magician' – Divyanka Tripathi teams up with Javed Jaffrey

After three years, TV's beloved 'Sanskari Bahu', Divyanka Tripathi, is making a comeback with a brand-new show. This time, she’s paired with popular film actor Javed Jaffrey in The Magic of Shri. The show tells the story of a housewife who, while fulfilling her family responsibilities, steps out to chase her dreams—with the help of magician Saleem, played by Javed Jaffrey. In an exclusive interview, Divyanka and Javed shared their thoughts about the unique concept, their roles, the storyline, and the evolution of cinema. Here’s what they had to say:

• When a show gets announced, fans get excited, but sometimes delays happen. Now that the show’s release date has finally arrived, what kind of response have you received from the audience?

Divyanka: I think when a show’s release date is announced, people eagerly wait for it. But when that date gets pushed back, it becomes the most awaited show. That's exactly what happened with our show. I didn’t know how to explain the delay to the audience, as they kept asking me when the show would air. But now, thankfully, I finally have an answer for them.

• We saw in the trailer that you've done some amazing magic in the show. Can you tell us more about your characters in the show?

Divyanka: In the show, I play the character of Shri Shroff. She’s a housewife, but she has dreams of her own. The story is very beautiful. It’s set in a Punjabi family in Delhi, and the relationship between Saleem (played by Javed Jaffrey) and Shri is that of a mentor and mentee. It has evolved beautifully on screen.

Javed Jaffrey: I play the character of magician Saleem, who helps Shri fulfill her dreams. Along the way, Shri also brings some positive changes in my own life. There are emotional moments as well. I had been moving in a negative direction, but Shri brings me back to a more positive path.

As a child, you must have seen circuses or magic shows. Now you're performing magic on screen. Did those childhood experiences help you with this role? And you’re not from a Punjabi background, yet you play a Punjabi character. How challenging or easy was that for you?

Divyanka: I think becoming Punjabi was harder than becoming a magician. I’m from Bhopal, and I speak pure Hindi, so picking up the Punjabi dialect was a real challenge for me. To practice, I used to record myself speaking Punjabi and listen to it, or sometimes, I’d speak with my friends and get feedback. I worked really hard on the script and the accent.

I’ve watched many circus and magic shows in my childhood. When I knew I would be doing this show, I went with my family to watch a circus. I learned a lot from them. When I asked them when they practice, they said, "When we're not performing, we’re practicing." They go from one city to another, just practicing. One thing I’d like to say is that the sacrifices these performers make will also reflect in the characters of Shri and Saleem.

Years ago, the film Mera Naam Joker was released, and later, Hera Pheri also showed a circus concept. Now, after all these years, we're seeing something similar again. What do you think about this?

Javed Jaffrey: This is different from the circus concept. When we were growing up, we never saw a female magician. But in this show, a woman steps out to become a magician in a city like Delhi, where male ego is quite high. It’s a big deal to see a woman breaking those boundaries and becoming a magician. This is something I’ve never seen before, and now, for the first time, such a story is being told.

• You’ve played many different roles on TV. How do you manage both work and home life in real life?

Divyanka: Yes, I’ve played many different roles on TV. But when I’m portraying a character, I forget my real-life self. When I’m playing Shri, I completely immerse myself in that character and forget about my real-life responsibilities. Sometimes, I can relate to the character, and sometimes I can’t. That’s the beauty of these roles.

• People really seem to love the work you do, and a certain image is formed in their minds. How do you decide which scripts to take?

Javed Jaffrey: I don’t want to leave any image in people’s minds. I just want them to say, "This actor fits any role he plays." Whether it’s comedy, villain, or hero, I want people to appreciate my performance, not the image I’ve created.

When I choose scripts, I don’t go for ones where it feels like removing my character wouldn’t affect the story. I pick roles where I feel I can contribute something meaningful, even if it’s just in 2 or 3 scenes. But I don’t do that all the time. In films like Dhamal, Singh is King, or Taaza Khabar, if my character were removed, the story wouldn’t have the same impact. I also consider whether the role will allow me to learn something new as an actor.

• As an actor, you get both good and bad comments from the audience. Which one affects you more?

Javed Jaffrey: As an actor, it’s important to have an inner critic. I always evaluate myself. If I feel I’ve done something wrong, I make sure to not repeat it next time. You can also get feedback from people around you whom you trust. But you have to give your 100% in every performance.

• In the show, Shri's mentor is Saleem. Who are your mentors in real life?

Divyanka: Before marriage, my mentors were my family—my parents, brother, and sister. They always guided me. After marriage, my husband became my mentor. When I have doubts about myself, he has more faith in me than I do.

Javed Jaffrey: Professionally, my mentor was my father. He taught me how to approach my work. After that, my wife and my son have been my critics and mentors in their own way.

• Is there a film character you particularly liked?

Javed Jaffrey: I love all my characters, whether it's from Pagalpan, Dhamal, Singh is King, Salaam Namaste, Shorya, or Taaza Khabar. All my characters are special to me.

• What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in cinema, from earlier films to now?

Divyanka: I think after COVID, we started seeing cinema in a new way. When Lapata Ladies was released, we saw that characters who were once just supporting roles are now leading the stories. We’ve also begun appreciating South and Marathi cinema, which produces amazing content. Earlier, we couldn’t access their films, but now with OTT and dubbing, we can enjoy pan-India films.

Javed Jaffrey: Now there’s healthy competition between OTT platforms and cinema. Some content is better suited for OTT, and some is meant for the big screen. 12th Fail is a film that’s best enjoyed on the big screen.

• What would you like to say to your audience?

Divyanka: Please watch The Magic of Shri on Jio Cinema. It’s coming on November 14. Watch it with your family, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Don’t forget to share your feedback with us.

Javed Jaffrey: The content is really good, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching it.

The Magic of Shri will be available on Jio Cinema Premium from November 14. Divyanka Tripathi has previously appeared in shows like Khatron Ke Khiladi, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Banun Main Teri Dulhan, Mr. & Mrs. Sharma Allahabad Wale, and Adrishyam. Javed Jaffrey was recently seen in Taaza Khabar Season 2.

By Priyanka Yadav

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