The role of suhani in suhani si ek ladki was actually my first role on tv, Rajshri rani

Rajshri rani, who, plays the title role of suhani in the tv serial suhasi si ek ladki tells jyothi venkatesh in this exclusive telephonic interview for bollyy.com and mayapuri that when she saw another girl auditioning, she had literally lost all hopes by then and thought she will never get the role - Jyothi Venkatesh

Tell me what your role in Suhani Si EK Ladki is?

It is a story of a not-so-beautiful dark-complexioned girl. It is based in Allahabad (North). She has a tough childhood as well and used to be asked all the time, who will marry a dark complexioned girl like you. But she was a very happy go lucky and fun loving girl as a character.

To what extent you were able to identify with the role?

In real life as well I have a wheatish complexion, but in Suhani I had to put up makeup to look darker. For the character I had to be two tones darker than my real skin.

But If I talk about my character, it was an easy task playing Suhani’s role because Suhani is also as happy go lucky and fun loving like I am in real life.

I can safely say Suhani and Rajshri are almost same, so I did not have much trouble getting into Suhani’s character.

Does it mean that you actually didn’t have to act?

We can’t say that entirely, as it’s always easier said than done. But mostly we actors try to NOT act In front of the camera and be as natural in the environment as we can get.

But no doubt it’s all team work, Suhani was my first show and I literally had no experience in acting.

Was it your first show?

Yes it was my first show, it was a lot of team work and the production, and I should say that the directors have worked on me a lot.

It was easy for me, but I won’t say it was all a cake walk. It was a lot of work and dedication because one doesn’t know the technicalities of the camera, like how to behave, what to do.

But it was relatively easier for me since I was naturally playing the role of how I was as a person. So that helped me portray the character more naturally and easily.

How did you get your break in the series?

It started with my audition. I remember they had called me to offer me Suhani’s friend’s character Soumya.

Then there was no communication for over a month, suddenly I received a call from the same production but for a different script this time which was then for Suhani.

I was called for multiple readings and auditions and the production kept pushing me for better work.

Then there were a series of look tests and mock shoots and then I became Suhani.

You mean to say that it wasn’t easy grabbing Suhani’s role?

I wouldn’t say it was easy. As an actor I was serious that I had got this role but they had indirectly told me that they are doing this mock test only with me and they will check for my chemistry with the male actor and how we look together.

So in my head I was very sure that I have been chosen for this and Suhani will be my role. I remember when I went for my last mock shoot, there was another girl who was auditioning from Chandigarh and they shot a mock shoot till very late with her.

I was very tensed and worried looking at her, because in my head I was Suhani already. So when I saw that other girl auditioning, I had lost all hopes by then and thought I will never get this.

Why?

I was supposed to dance with the male actor. So they briefed me saying that I have to express differently and give different emotions.

On top of all the emotions I was going through internally, I had never met Sahil (my co-actor).

I don’t even remember now what I actually did but I did something and reached home. I always have this habit of leaving work at sets and I never take the tension and anxiety of work home.

I also never wait and stress about the fact that the production didn’t call or give an update.

But for Suhani, I got a call right on the next day saying they will shoot a pilot episode with me.

They gave me a long list of things I should learn right from learning how to ride a scooty to everything Suhani was supposed to know.

They had already confirmed that I was to play Suhani when they called me for the second script reading.

Is the second season in the pipeline?

No, there is nothing like that. Somebody joked around and there were rumors and some fans and followers have created pages on Instagram and Facebook, but there is nothing like that. We are not coming with a second season.

It was telecast on Star first and now Shemaroo TV is bringing it back for the audiences. When I came to know they are telecasting Suhani again, I was super happy.

Suhani has been very close to my heart and the show completed 1000 episodes, so Suhani, is set, and the people have become like a family to me now.

So when I got to know Shemaroo TV is telecasting it again, my insta was filled with stills from the shows, and all the good memories came back to me.

There were more than 1000 episodes and we shot for more than 3 – 3 and half years for the same .It started in 2014 and went on till 2017

How many serials have you done post that?

I did Eikyawan post that I did ye Jaadu Hai Gin Ka (where I had a small cameo) and currently I am doing Namak Ishq Ka

How did you choose your career as an actress?

It was in my destiny that I came into the industry and have been very lucky to play the lead in Suhani Si Ek Ladki and no doubt there was a lot of hard work that was put in by everyone and the show also became a huge hit.

I will just say this is all destiny and luck; there is definitely huge amount of hard work as well.

You haven’t interacted with the media more?

I have always been in touch with the media and I recently got married. I am not a very social person, I attend very few parties and don’t socialise much.

I am not even active on social media much but that is my personal preference. But when it comes to the media, I have always been in touch with them.

Is yours an arranged or a love marriage?

I wouldn’t call it love or arranged it’s somewhere in the middle. I married my co-actor Gaurav Mukesh Jain who played my brother-in-law.

We have been greatest of friends since then. During the lockdown both of us decided to get married. So we never had a love angle, it was always friendship.

Did you guys fall in love while working together?

I wouldn’t call it love, when you are in love you own that person, and tend to be more attached, more possessive, more caring, but we have always been like friends, always chilled out like friends. In fact even after marriage we don’t feel we are married, it’s like two friends living together.

Are you working together now as well?

No, he is working for Imli (Star Plus) and I am doing Namak Ishq ka (Colors)

What is your role in Namak Ishq Ka?

It’s a family drama, where my husband has a love angle with the main lead but she doesn’t love him back.

I was very intrigued by the role, where this character is all sweet and simple but ends up going through a rough and painful patch.

It was the first role that was offered to me after the lockdown, and everyone knows how DIFFICULT the lockdown has been. So, I accepted the role.

Have you also tried working in movies?

Frankly speaking, I never tried, though I would love to. On TV shows, when you are playing one character for a long time, you tend be become that character even in your real life.

But in films you get to play a different character every time.I am sure nobody would deny not wanting to work in movies. But I never tried.

What kinds of role will you are interested in?

I have never been specific about my roles, I enjoy playing every character. I have never been adamant on playing the main lead.

I just want a role that is challenging where I have to get into the character and mould myself accordingly, which gives me a kick to work. I am okay, to do any role; I should just like that in the first go.

Would you be willing to do glamorous roles as well?

That will be the last option for me. I am a very simple girl, so it will be very challenging for me but I will definitely think about it when I get something like that.

Now that you are married, do you think your choice of roles will also change and you will do few glamorous roles now?

There is nothing like that, in fact my husband is cooler than me in this sense. He has never refused me for anything.

But personally, this is who I am, I have been very choosy about my work. Until I don’t understand the character in my head, I will not go ahead and play it.

How do you approach acting?

Frankly speaking, I can’t explain this in words. People have this perception that working in regular shows are more easier than working in web series,

But the job is equally tough and one puts in the same amount of energy and work on the same. I love acting, I am the happiest In front of the camera.

Do you believe that you were born for acting?

I don’t feel I was born to act. I belong to a very small town in UP and nobody even talks about acting as a career there.

I also belong to a Brahman family, so since childhood I never thought of making a career out of acting.

Were your parents against acting?

There is nothing like that, my dad has been a poet’ and a writer throughout his life. There were no restrictions in my family,

I am the only girl with 3 brothers, so I have been pampered a lot since childhood. My father never stopped me from doing anything.

But has always asked me to follow my heart and my family has been very supportive. My husband is also very supportive.

Why did you not change you name after marriage?

It’s very easy to get your name changed, but you have to go through paper work and legalities to get the name changed.

And that is followed by changing your name in a series of government documents right from you Pan, to Aadhaar to bank documents.

My shoot also started right after marriage. Frankly speaking I don’t want to change my name and even my husband is very supportive of that. Both of us don’t feel the need.

Your name suggests that you belong to the dynasty of a princess!

My father is a writer who wrote a book as well. He always believes that people are defined by the names, and it has some good impact in their lives.

He feels name should be of high impact to ensure a good trajectory in life and career.

Do you also dwell in Shayari or poetry because of your dad?

I don’t write. But I will definitely say that his creative mind space has helped me excel in my acting career. That is something I have taken from him.

How is your chemistry with other actors?

I have spent a lot of time on my sets, as we shoot from day to night and the entire set becomes like a family.

Every-one had told me that you are friends with people only until you work with them, but I didn’t feel the same.

I am still in touch and keep meeting people from Suhani’s cast and we are best of friends and we feel like family.

I have always been blessed with getting good co-actors and even in my current show, I have got some good co-actors.