Smita Bansal: There was nothing else that I could offer to my character in 'Balika Vadhu'

Smita Bansal might have quit Balika Vadhu, but she is still remembered for her homely-mother role from the daily soap. Recently, Indore’s janta was pleasantly surprised when she showed her comic timing along with actor Anup Soni in the play, Hum Do Humaare Woh.
“Everyone really enjoyed the play and I am glad that for a change, I could also make people laugh with my performance. Serials ka rona-dhona toh laga rehta hai par aisa mauka bahut kam milta hai jab aap apne fans ke saamne unke liye kuch hatke perform karte hain,” Smita says, adding, “Although this is the first time I’m staging a play in Indore, my association with Madhya Pradesh has been pretty good.I have been here for a number of events and activities, but for obvious reasons, this visit has been the most special for me. I have always got a lot of love and respect from the people in MP and this time it got all the more better. After getting such a tremendous response in Indore, I’m looking forward to performing in Bhopal also.”
Smita is also a self-confessed foodie. She says, “The entire crew of the play is planning to go to 56 Dukaan and relish some delicious Indori delicacies. I am a big foodie, so I am definitely looking forward to the visit. Whenever I am in Indore, gorging on the yummy namkeen is a must.”
READ: Anup Soni and Smita Bansal get nostalgic
THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT I COULD OFFER TO MY ROLE IN BALIKA Smita has been associated with Balika right from its inception. So, her decision to quit the show came as a surprise for many. “When I decided to leave Balika Vadhu after a span of almost six years, people wanted to know why I was taking such a hasty decision and that I should not let go of the character that has got so much love from the audience. But the fact is, that as an actor you also have certain responsibilities. You can’t go on and on without understanding where your character, and most importantly, the storyline, is going. I got exhausted doing the same thing and I realized there was nothing else that I could offer to my character in Balika Vadhu,” Smita says.
Ask her if she risked her standing in the television industry by leaving the show, and Smita replies, “For me, leaving the show was never a risk because as long as you know your job, and don’t carry any unnecessary baggage with you, getting a good role will never be a problem. Moreover, I don’t work for money and so I don’t mind sitting at home for some time. At the same time, I believe the serial is still doing great without me. So, it’s not that either of our (her and Anup’s) existence will be at stake if we decide to go our own ways.”
I WISH TO PLAY roles THAT LOOK MY AGE The 36-year-old actress says she wishes to do roles closer to her age. “Now, I wish to play characters that look my age. I need a break from playing the sacrificing mother-types and do more interesting roles. I am looking forward to characters that allow me to do something that I haven’t done so far. As it is, you don’t get to experiment much when you are working in television because of a set pattern of stories and scripts. Above that, if you start playing characters that are 20 years older than your actual age, you’ll soon have to play a grandmother. Some actors are okay with it and I respect their choice, but it is not something that I want to do in the long run,” Smita says, adding, “It’s true when people complain that the female lead in a daily soap is too good to be true. For example, have you ever come across a woman like Sumitra (her character in Balika) in real life who is always so sweet and endures all the pain and sufferings with a smile on her face? At least I haven’t!”
READ: Smita Bansal denied entry in a pub
ON BEING A FULL-TIME MOTHER After having worked rigorously for so many years, Smita says she’s enjoying her break. “One of the biggest reasons to take a sabbatical from television is my younger daughter. She is too young and she needs me to be beside her all the time. While I try to do some theatre from time to time to keep myself active, I’m a full-time mother now. I would like to spend quality time with my husband and kids till the time I come across the kind of project I actually want to be a part of. As of now, I’m not willing to take up any random role,” she says.
And what about reality shows? “I am also not very interested in doing a reality show. They are too taxing! I did Nach Baliye 5 as a one-off. I got to do the show with my husband (Ankush Mohta) and we had a lot of fun together. But I think I’m quite laidback as a person to take up a show that needs 100% dedication, as right now my complete focus is on raising my two daughters,” Smita says.
WATCH: Balika Vadhu : OMG! Bhairav aka Anup Soni and Sumitra aka Smita Bansal finally QUIT the show