“I FEEL THAT I AM STILL LEARNING EVERY DAY AND GROWING AS AN ACTRESS EVERY DAY”

SHASHI SHARMA

In this exclusive intimate e-mail interview, veteran actress SHASHI SHARMA who is being seen in Ramanand Sagar’s mythological TV serial Shri Krishna nowadays on Doordarshan at 9 pm every day,  tells JYOTHI VENKATESH for bollyy.com and Mayapuri that there can be dynamically different roles for the character artist but unfortunately the mushrooming new producers and directors today do not seem at all to think much about the poor character artists because they want to accommodate only young new faces in place of the character artists

How do you feel when you look back at your career today?

When I look back at my career, I frankly feel very good because I am very fortunate that I have worked so much and for all good work as an actress, I got many challenges. However, today the entire film scenario is changing but I am ready to face the camera if I am getting good roles to do.

Has Shree Krishna revived your popularity in a big way?

Yes Krishna revived my popularity again after a gap of almost two decades.

In Shree Krishna, I was lucky to play the pivotal role of Lord Krishna’s wife Satyabhama. The best thing is that I got a golden opportunity to work with a great legendary director like Ramanandji.

How did you bag your break in Shri Krishna as Satyabhama?

And after he liked my skill as an actress in the serial Prem Kahaniyaan, in which I had essayed the role of Noorjahan, Ramanand Sagarji was kind enough to offer the role of Satyabhama in his mega serial Shri Krishna to me. At that time my serial Aurat directed by B R Chopra was very popular and luckily for me, Ramanand Sagarji had seen it too. After Shri Krishna, he offered me his serial called Jai Durga as Durga and that was also a very different learning experience by itself for me.

How tough was your role as an actress?

The role was tough but as you know I work in a flow of my own and it was a memorable as well as wonderful experience for me as an actress.

Was Raja ki Aayegi Baraat your debut as an actress? 

Raja Ki Aayegi Barat was not my debut film at all. I had earlier made my debut with a film called Chahunga Main Tujhe with Kamal Masterji. I had also worked in Dhartiputra with Mammootty and Jaya Prada.

How was Rani Mukherjee as your co-actor?

Rani was good with us as a newcomer and displayed a lot of potential as an actress even at that time.

Do you think your potential as an actress has not yet been exploited?

Frankly speaking, though I have no complaint and would only say that my potential has been exploited. On having second thoughts I’d also say that something could have been much better.

What attracted you towards acting?

Acting and dancing were my main passion right from the beginning and whenever I used to watch movies, I’d always feel that I was one of the actors in the movie.

Which are your five best films as an actress?

My five best films till date are Dhartiputra, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Mehendi, Badhshah and last but not the least Arjun Pandit.

Which are your five best TV serials till date?

I think till date, my five best TV serials are Tipu Sultan, Aurat, Shree Krishna, Ajnabi and last but not the least Chandrakanta.

With which TV serial did you begin your stint as an actress?

I began with the serial Tipu Sultan in which I played the role of Maharani of Mysore. It was big block buster show on TV. After that I got many offers to act in not only TV serials but also films and believe it or not, there were producers who used to reach Jaipur to sign me. I stated from Jaipur and it was only in 1993 that I shifted lock, stock and barrel to Mumbai, though I had started working from 1987.

You do not seem to take up many films as a character actress?

As you have very rightly asked, it is true that I didn’t’ at all take many films where I was required to play character roles. The reason was mainly because I felt that nowadays very few films come up with proper roles for the character artists. I did not at all want to be a part of the crowds in any film but if I get properly defined character roles, I’d definitely look forward to them.

In what way is it different as a character actor when compared to your days as a heroine? 

When you compare to that of the heroine, today the poor character artist has hardly any scope in films. There can be dynamically different roles for the character artist but unfortunately the mushrooming new producers as well as directors today do not seem at all to think much about us character artists and want to accommodate only young new faces in place of the character artists. That is the reason I lack roles in films, which are being made nowadays. Let's see what is in store tomorrow.

How was Ramananad Sagar as a director in Shri Krishna?

Ramanand sager was very good. I'm fortunate that I did all big banner films as well as big banner shows with good directors as well as producers.

Today you are a nanimaa. Is it the reason that you have quit acting in films or TV serials?

Sorry I have not quite acting and I am very much a part of the scenario as far as acting is concerned, even today. However, the biggest problem is that casting in TV serials is no longer decided by the producers but by the channels. The time has changed the way of working. If I get proper roles in serials or films I am looking forward to working in TV serials as well as films today.

What kind of roles do you want to do today?

I want to do different but woman oriented roles and do not mind whether they are nagative, positive or for that matter out and out comic.

Who are the filmmakers in your wish list as an actress?

I wish to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar etc.

Who are your favorite actors today?

Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan

How keen are you to act in web series?

I am quite keen to take up acting if I get good offers from makers of good web series I do not mind at all if my role is good.

In what way have you grown as an actress from then to now?

I have grown as an actress by gaining practical experience. I feel that I am still learning every day as far as acting is concerned, in spite of the fact that the scenario as far as serials and films has changed a lot nowadays.

Do you think that the way filmmaking or TV serials are being made has changed today? Why did you not take up acting in more TV serials?

Today the working style has affected many senior artists and that is something which I feel is very sad. But I hope things again change for the betterment of the industry as well as the actors. For almost a period of 20 years, I continued to work regularly with B. R Chopraji and in many serials like Vaishali Ki Nagar Vadhu, Aurat, Durga, Ajnabi etc, I played different roles and also enjoyed being a part of them.