As Parvati turns Priya

ANUJ KUMAR
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Chat Saakshi Tanwar, the protagonist of the popular serial Bade Achhe Lagte Hain' on what it takes to break stereotypes

BACK FOR GOOD Saakshi Tanwar

F or long we have been missing a female character on the small screen that is strong-minded as well as committed to family values. Priya is the protagonist we were longing to see in our television serials. Saakshi Tanwar, who has returned to television after more than two years, reminds us that Parvati (the character she played in Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii') was also determined but agrees that she was a homemaker for a large part of the serial. Before that Tara was also a strong character but she didn't really represent the working middle class. Here is a girl on the wrong side of 30, who is working, supports the family and is not in a hurry to get married. She is not wilting under societal pressure. She is rather happy with her situation. There are many girls like Priya around us and they need space in our films and serials. And the character is consistent from the beginning. There are no sudden twists, says Saakshi, who herself is in no hurry to get married. I understand Priya's situation but there are no real-life parallels. She points out that even her look is different from the usual television protagonists who are decked up from head to toe whatever may be the situation. You must have noticed that Priya wears only three to four sets of kurtas and jeans. The costume designer and make-up man keep complaining

because they are not used to such a situation on television, but I insist it should be natural. It is very much like what we find in Delhi University, says Saakshi, who studied at Lady Shri Ram College. She adds that the serial also makes subtle remarks on the way we look at our partners. Young, fair, handsome doesn't necessarily work. Ram (Kapoor) is not in great shape but his personality is infectious. But her mother represents the same old stereotype of a mother ready to marry off her aging daughter to anybody. See, a serial needs all the rasas , all the points of view. Priya's father and brother are fully supportive. Perhaps that's why she has been able to achieve what she has. Family support is crucial. In the readymade world of TV soaps you have a dialogue for every occasion but after a long time we get to see silence playing its role, eye movements being put into play. I am glad that the efforts are being noticed. Whatever may be the constraints, an actor can still do a lot between action' and cut' if he or she is committed to the art. I always try to give at least three options to my director for the same scene. Sometimes it confuses the editor, says Saakshi. However, after a rather intelligent start, the serial is now getting into the loud tantrums of grandmothers and the scheming of a wily uncle. Experiment is fine but television is still a mass medium where to hold the attention of the entire family is very difficult. Imagine kids playing, the housewife working in the kitchen it is in such an atmosphere that you have to keep the viewer engaged. Ekta (Kapoor) was clear from the beginning that we would raise relevant issues but won't make it for any one section. That said, the real story will start after the marriage when two, strongwilled characters come under one roof. One of the few young actors in the industry who can speak impeccable Hindi, Saakshi gives the credit to her parents. When I was young one of the most popular games in the house was to write synonyms of words. So I can never be at a loss for words. Even now when I go home and they get a whiff of the Mumbaiya lingo in my conversation, they get upset. Saakshi is quite upbeat about Chandra Prakash Dwivedi's Mohalla Assi , where she is cast opposite Sunny Deol. Hasn't she missed the film bus? I was never overtly ambitious. I only surrender to situations. I was very much into academics and was looking forward to preparing for the Civil Services when I got the offer to act. It changed my life. I was in no mood to return to television after working (in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii ) non-stop for eight years. Ekta offered me this serial more than two years ago and when I said no she preferred to wait. I believe what belongs to you ultimately comes to you. ANUJ KUMAR There are many girls like Priya around us and they need space in our films and serials