In a role inspired by Ritwik Ghatak’s immortal film Meghe Dhaka Tara, Smriti plays Uma, a working-class girl who’s reached marriageable age. The show, deals with Uma’s fears and challenges as people taunt her for not being married.
After essaying the role of Tulsi and Ba with ease, Smriti will be seen in an all-new avatar in Thodisi Zameen Thodasa Aasman, a soap that goes on air next month.
ONLY ROLE SHE FIND CLOSER TO HER AGE
Finally, I can play a character that’s closer to my age. However, people are unsure about my age after seeing me play a 70-year-old in Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Will I be accepted as a young woman after playing Ba?
If Star had any doubts they wouldn’t have approved my second serial,” says Smriti.
ROLE HAS BEEN TAILOR MADE FOR SMRITI
“Tulsi in Kyunkii… and Uma in Thodisi… differ vastly in their attitudes. While Tulsi’s world is restricted to the four walls of her extended family, Uma is forced to look at the world outside her family. I’d call Thodisi… a reality show formatted as a soap. It revolves around a jobless mill-worker’s life,” says Shailaja.
CONTEMPORARY SCRIPT WITH A LITTLE TWIST
“Although realistic, Thodisi… has the Ekta Kapoor twist,” she adds. “It is contemporary in theme, characterisation and dialogue. I believe if a script involves viewers it cannot go wrong. But a creative work is like the Russian Roulette. You never know how the audience will react.”
Smriti is hopeful about Thodisi… “My reality-driven talk-show Kucch Dil Se was successful. It didn’t have melodrama and was realistic. Nobody expected the ‘bahu’ to discuss controversial subjects like homosexuality and AIDS. We’ll soon find out if my new experiment with truth works out or not,” she says.
And how can Sumeet be away from his maiden show for long? Yes, he will soon be seen in Kyunki…... "I am happy to be back on my show," he says with excitement in his voice. He's also charged up about his next much awaited and talked about Balaji show, Karbon Kopy. "The shooting is all most complete but due to some hitch the show is not aired yet." Besides Sachdev, KK also stars Karan Grover, Shubha Verma and Yash Tonk.
GUJRAT TOUR
Nevertheless, the actress will now have to juggle two shows. At present, Smriti is in Gujarat for the 500th staging of the laugh-riot Maniben.com. “Today I shot for eight hours. Then in the evening I was part of a political programme. And now I’m in Gujarat for my play. If I chose to have a family and career then I better be equipped for both,” says Smriti. “Thankfully, there are many women in the TV industry who understand my commitments as a wife and mother. Even my co-stars co-operate. If I tell Ronit Roy to miss his coffee break to save time, he is glad to oblige. Even my political party knows I’m committed. If I don’t get a babysitter for my children they send me home by the night flight. I’m lucky to have both good opportunities and a good support system.”
