“There are some makers who misuse the liberty offered to them by resorting to sleaze” ASHLESHA SAWANT tells JYOTHI VENKATESH

In this exclusive and informal interview for Mayapuri and bollyy.com, pretty and svelte ASHLESHA SWANT tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that today, though our Prime Minister Modiji is in favor of women’s upliftment, unfortunately in the name of tradition, we find women suppressing women in general.

You are now all set to make your debut with the film Haryana after you made your debut on TV with Anupama!

Thanks for the compliment. You have made me feel young. I had made my debut on TV not with Anupama but with Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahi Thi and that too way back 16 and a half years ago.

Thanks for correcting me. Did other serials follow with you after Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi?

Yes. I did a few more TV serials with me in cameo roles but unfortunately for me, almost all of them did not at all do well and my career did not at all take off and my father who was a fighter pilot asked me to stop acting in serials and pursue my studies seriously.

I went back to Pune where I hail from and do my degree. I bought my ‘fake degree’ and both my father and I were happy though he does not know that till date.

What next?

I was soon offered a role in the TV serial Saat Phere and that changed the course of my life, though it was Kyonki Sas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi had given me a lot of fame as an actor which no teenager could hope for in life.

Why do you say that Saat Phere was a big turning point in your life?

That is because I met the late actress Surekha Sikri on the sets of Saat Phere. It was Surekhaji who taught me what professional acting is actually.

It was fascinating to listen to her takes about her days at the Acting Institute and her work with Shyam Benegal. It was Surekhaji who taught me everything about acting

Have you been a part of any big time reality show till date?

I have not been part of any reality show till date though reality shows had started way back in 2007 and actors value used to rocket sky high and they had started throwing tantrums.

Frankly, I do not have any regret especially since I did not want to be part of any reality show. I did not become part of Bigg Boss and Nach Baliye. Do you know that I was without any work for three years between 2014 and 2017 and was lost?

What is the role that you are playing in the film Haryana?

I play a very interesting as well as very challenging role of a 30 year old unmarried woman called Bimla in the film Haryana.

Bimla keeps on rejecting all offers from various families for marriage and ultimately after she is subjected to a lot of pressure from her family folks, she settles down for Yash Tonk who is very old compared to her

To what extent, is your character similar to you in real life?

Like I do in real life, Bimla also believes a lot in love but wants to wait till she is able to settle down with the right man in her life.

How did you prepare for your character in the film?

I had to learn the dialect properly, because it was very tough to play the role of a woman in a village especially since I am a PAN India young woman. I had to do a lot for workshops conducted by our director Sandeep Sir.

In what way was it different as far as work on TV and film was concerned?

As far as TV is concerned, you have to be on your toes all the time as you have to work towards your pre-determined deadlines every day, though all said and done, I should confess that it was actually TV that enabled me to buy my own house.

Now, after working in a film like Haryana, with which I am, satisfied more than 100 per cent, I am itching to do more feature films especially since I have tasted blood. (Laughs)

What is your role in Anupama?

I play an out and out negative role in Anupama. However, as far as TV is concerned, your role always depends upon the TRPs that the show manages to fetch based on your role. I had always yearned to work with Rajan Sir as I am fan of his serials. I was lucky that I was called to meet him at his office and I bagged the role.

How open are you to be part of any web series? Do you feel OTT platforms today show a lot of skin show and nudity?

I have just auditioned for an OTT web series. I feel it is absolutely wrong to say that OTT only shows skin show and are full of swear words, though there are web series which have content in addition to nudity.

I feel that OTT platforms have liberated creative freedom among makers a lot, though there are some makers who are misusing that liberty offered to them by resorting to sleaze.

Does that mean that you are averse to doing web series which require you to show your skin or indulge in lip to lip kisses?

Far from that, what I mean to state is that sex and nudity ought to have some decent limitations. I am of course ready to be part of series which require suggestive sex. I am of the opinion that a good kiss or love making scene should be shot keeping aesthetics in mind

Are you part of any more feature film or TV serial?

Though I have not signed for any feature film after Haryana, I have already done two pilots for the creative team of Rajanji and look forward to be part of his serials, though in general, I find we are spoon feeding regressive ideas through shows, like in Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

Today, though our Prime Minister Modiji is in favor of women’s upliftment, unfortunately in the name of tradition, we find women suppressing women in general.

What is your ambition now?

In the film Haryana, we have shown how a woman can uplift the lives of several other women. I want to be a part of any NGO which wants me to teach awareness to women in village and teach them to stand on their own two feet in villages.