From an actress to producer..how does it feel?
It feels great. I have been actingfor 17 years now, and being a producer gives me more control. Now I can incorporate my suggestions and inputs which was not possible just as an actress. I also can give my actors a lot more freedom to explore their potential.
Small Screen Production is formed by three people, what is your responsibility?
I look after the creative element. Vicky Tejwani looks after the finiances and Kailash Gandhi looks after the production.We have three very well distributed areas.
You also act in Goonj Ateet Ki, do the dual responsibilities take a toll on you?
It does get taxing, yes. Sometimes, I cannot help my emotions getting a little intertwined. This used to happen especially in the begining, now things are more settled. In any case my involvment as an actress in the serial is not that great. This serial is not made to promote me as an actress. Frankly if some other producer would have offered me a role this small,I would’nt even have accepted it.
How has the feedback been so far?
We have aired five episodes and the response has crossed my expectations. The reason is one, because people like the different story, two, because audiences love the backdrop and the whole look and of course it gives them a recourse from the boring saas bahu serials.
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A scene from Goonj Ateet Ki |
It must have been difficult shooting in Kerala?
Oh, shooting in Kerala was a nightmare We had language and communication problems. We were absolute strangers. Production units there understand only films, and refuse to understand the budgetary constraints of a serial production. Plus we had to deal with their unions and stuff so it was quite diffficult.
Why did you choose to shoot in Kerala?
The story was written about a family in Kerala. There is a flash back in the story relevant to the place . Frankly, I could have taken the story to any small town, but then I would be majorly compromising.
Goonj... has an element of the supernatural..do you think Indians will identify with it?
Definitely, in India when something bad happens we attribute it to Karma. We look to the supernatural to deal with our day to day problems. To have something to fall back on is an intergral part of any Indian’s life.
Do you personally believe in the supernatural?
Hundred per cent! In Goonj.. we are talking about a curse which is reflected in generations to come. This is something I have seen happening in people’s lives.I would ‘nt have touched a subject which I did not believe in because I would not have been able to do justice to it.
Are you also trying to give a message through the story?
Yes, we are giving a beautiful moral through Goonj... ’think before you do something, think before you say something’. We see a lot of evil people flourishing but this is very temporary and you never know, tomorrow your children may have to pay for your deeds.
The subject is an unconventional one..were you apprehensive about taking it up?
Yes we all were, but the stroy just lured us..almost like a supernatural force(laughs) . A lot of belief, a lot of faith and conviction has gone in, and I think it shows in the final product. Everyone involved believes in the story.