Ramola Sikand is the most hated woman on television today. And actress Sudha Chandran has been very convincing as the scheming, socialite, businesswoman and the typical wicked stepmother, who doesn’t think twice before attempting to kill her son and daughter-in-law in Balaji Telefilms’ late-night thriller Kaahin Kissi Roz (KKR). Every time Ramola Sikand is hatching a plot, an ominous background theme brings shivers down the spine of the viewer. As for Sudha Chandran, long years of patient waiting is finally paying off. KKR on STAR Plus is her first brush with success after a long hiatus and a spate of indifferent roles. The actress, a.k.a. Mayuri of Naache Mayuri spoke to Screen about fame as Ramola Sikand and herself on the sets of Kaahin Kissi Roz:

As Ramola Sikand

When I signed KKR, I never imagined that the character of Ramola would create such a furore. Today, this character is being talked about not only for her viciousness, but also for her sarees, finger rings, ‘tikka’, jewellery as well as her eyelashes. It is the most happening character. Earlier negative characters were not given much importance till Shah Rukh Khan did Darr. People suddenly realised that bad is also important in life. Yet on television, people love to watch the positive characters like Parvati in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. These are household names and are identified with easily. But now, slowly Ramola too has managed to make a place for herself with the viewers. Channels too are very particular about the look of a character these days, as the public relates to them easily.

What I like about Ramola is that there is no shabbiness in her character. She is always elegantly draped in chiffons and crepes and wears exquisite diamond and pearl jewellery. I come from a very middle-class, orthodox, South Indian family. So initially, I thought it would be difficult to play Ramola with conviction. But I am grateful to Homi Wadia who directed the first 10 episodes of the serial; he was instrumental in creating the character as it is today. The credit for Ramola’s look goes to Ekta Kapoor and Maasiji (Shobha Kapoor).

Playing Ramola for 20 days of every month, I think I have absorbed so much of her, that my mother and husband constantly remind me not to behave like her at home. Everyone, from the masses to the upper class, discuss Ramola, her style and sophistication. A negative character is usually down-market, but this character has sophistication, dignity and poise and that, I think, is the plus point of the character. I never knew it would turn out to be such a powerful role and would be loved by the masses so greatly.

After a year and a half of telecast of KKR, people have begun to love to hate Ramola. The biggest compliment ever paid to me was from director Ramesh Sippy, who said, “The similar anxiety seen on the faces of people at the entry of Gabbar Singh in Sholay is felt when Ramola Sikand appears on TV. With the music in the background, people know that she is up to something horrible.” Today, I am convinced that being good at being bad can help grab the limelight.

On Kaahin Kissi Roz

It is a very popular serial on Star Plus today. As far as believing in my character is concerned, I think, there is a Ramola Sikand inside every human being, who wants to be manipulative and successful. To be successful, one doesn’t follow ethics and moral values, but treads on someone else’s feet to come up in life. Maybe it is over-magnified on screen, but the fact that this character is universally accepted means that people identify with it easily.

Balaji Telefilms

The credit for the success of Ramola goes to Ekta Kapoor who spotted me in Sattee Shourie’s Kaise Kahoon, where I played an uneducated, scheming Muslim woman, and director Homi Wadia who directed the initial episodes of KKR. Thanks to this character, I have gained what I lost as a film artiste. I must also say that Balaji Telefilms has been the boosting factor in my career and has helped me regain my status as an actress. Working with Ekta Kapoor and Balaji Telefilms has been a very good experience and I have no reason to complain as they have been very accommodating with dates and very prompt with their payments, regardless of what is being said about them.

Reactions to Ramola

Till lately I was known as Mayuri of Naache Mayuri, but now people want me to sign autographs as Ramola Sikand. Sudha Chandran is a real-life heroine, who has fought fate and destiny. Today I am successful as a dancer as well as an actress. And it is nice to know that men adore me as Ramola, they like the way I wear my ‘tikkas’ and outline my lipstick.

The Real Sudha Chandran

“There is a Ramola Sikand inside every human being, who wants to be manipulative and successful”

Off-screen, I am a far cry from Ramola Sikand. My close friend on the sets of KKR is Mouli Ganguly, who is playing my daughter-in-law Shaina with whom I am always daggers-drawn in the serial, but off-screen, we have a special bonding. I am also a daughter who is worried about my mother who is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for a dreaded illness. It was my father who helped me overcome my grief when I was going through a bad phase in life after my accident and he has been very supportive of all my decisions. And Ravi Dang, my husband is the stabilising factor in my life.

The Film Industry

The film industry has not been very kind to me. I made my debut in an autobiographical film Naache Mayuri and created cinematic history by playing a handicapped dancer in the film, a role that instantly made me an icon for all those struggling to survive in the insensitive world of the abled. Pati Parmeshwar and a spate of films, which didn’t help me at all, followed this. Though my first film, under the directorial baton of G Vishwanath, was a huge hit, I failed to repeat the success and was reduced to playing ‘bhabhi’, sister and second lead roles in films.

This offer from Balaji Telefilms to play Ramola Sikand came as a shock to me, as I was made to believe by the film industry that I was meant for emotional and weepy roles. So though I am a good actress, I did films like Shola Aur Shabnam, Raghuvir and Qaid Mein Hain Bulbul, to name a few. I fell victim to one image in films, but television and Ekta Kapoor broke this norm. Today the same film people call me to say that I am a wonderful actress!

Aspirations

After doing weepy roles, people thought, comedy wasn’t my cup of tea. But Gautam Adhikari thought otherwise and cast me in Kabhi Idhar Kabhi Udhar with Shekhar Suman, which was a roaring success. I also did Apna Apna Style. I would love to try various shades in a character. And as a character artiste, KKR was the ultimate.

Looking Ahead

I have just signed a mythological film directed by V Menon titled Jai Maa Vaibhavi Laxmi where I play a grey shade for the first time on the big screen. As far as broadening my horizon is concerned, I recently turned producer alongwith my husband Ravi Dang and have made Waqt Ka Dariya for ETV, Urdu. And there are more such plans in the pipeline.

Dancing

With acting taking so much of my time, dancing has definitely taken a back seat. But I still perform whenever I can though not with so much finesse and perfection as the earlier days.

More Serials

The success of KKR has not helped me much in getting more offers. Today I am doing Waqt Ka Dariya. In Rakhi Tandon’s Heena I play a ‘tawaif’ from USA. And there is also Alok Dixit’s Antaral being telecast on DD. The success of Naache Mayuri then and Kaahin Kissi Roz now are just stepping stones in my career, and today after years of effort, I can proudly claim that I have achieved what many could have only hoped for.

— Namita Nivas
namitanivas@yahoo.com