Actress Apara Mehta is returning with a new show / Photo- Instagram
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Deepesh Pandey, Mumbai. Actress Apara Mehta, who entered the world of television at the age of just 15, worked in many serials like Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She is now playing the role of Rajshree Bua in the serial Prathas Ki Ode Chunari: Beedaani airing on Sun Neo. Conversation with Apra, who has been witness to the changing era of TV in the last four decades, on her show, journey and challenges of TV:
chose one of four
Regarding being a part of this serial, Apara says, 'Last year I went to America for a few months in connection with my Gujarati play. After that shot a web series of Hansal Mehta. At that time I was getting many offers from TV. I liked four offers. Three of them were also taking time to start, so I did this serial. After hearing about my character, I felt that the way it has Rajasthani conversation style and look, I have not done such a role before.
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Once it also came to my mind that this is a serial of a new channel, the rest of the offers were from established channels, but my heart said that this serial should be done. Its producer Raghuveer Shekhawat has been the writer of the serials Mere Saat Phere and Balika Vadhu, so I thought it would be right to do this show.
I don't believe in conventions at all
Regarding conservative practices becoming a hindrance in her life, Apara says, 'I do not believe in some practices at all. Women are very strong, there is nothing they cannot do. There is just a need to free them from social constraints and bad practices. My character in the show has very conservative views, which changes later. According to me, our society is also like that. No tradition has ever become a hindrance in my personal life. I was born in Bhavnagar and brought up in Mumbai. I had a very progressive family.
I was the only child of my parents. The house she came into after marriage (to actor Darshan Jariwala) is even more progressive than that. My mother, mother-in-law and mother-in-law were all Gujarati theater artists. Even at that time, I did not change my surname after marriage, but no one ever asked me about it.
On the changes in the television world and the current era of television, Apara says, 'I have seen TV changing completely and I am proud to have been a part of history. Now TV has advanced a lot technically. I have seen that only those serials which convey some right message among the people have done well. Then that is because the mother-in-law was also the daughter-in-law once, be it Anupama, Balika Vadhu or Taarak Mehta's Ooltah Chashma.
People forgot the serials which they tried to imitate. People compare TV with different mediums, but TV is not going anywhere, its reach is very high. With the advent of so many channels and programmes, its audience has definitely reduced.
Do films only on this condition
Apara worked mostly in TV and only a few in films. She explains the reason for this, 'I have done only those films in which the directors asked me up front. For Devdas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali called me and said that I am offering you a very small role, but you are the best fit for it. I did Tees Maar Khan with Farah Khan. I did the film Just Married with Meghna Gulzar. I did all these films because these directors wanted me in their films.
Why should I go to do another director's film, when I am getting such good roles in TV. TV is fine for me. The stories there are also female oriented. I have also done some shows on OTT, but have not auditioned for any. The director offered me up front. I will work like this, otherwise I have TV and Gujarati theater stage. Along with this serial, I am also seen in Kyunki Saas Mein Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. Whenever Tulsi needs her mother, whenever she remembers her mother, I come. I find that very funny.
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