“Television is a responsible medium. People take it seriously. It is an inspiration for youngsters. For them, television producers and actors have to act as agents of social change.”
These are the words of veteran tele-actor Apara Mehta, still remembered for her role in one of the biggest television serials Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi . Now, Apara will be seen on the small screen playing the role of a grandmother in Zee TV’s upcoming show Jamai Raja . Saying that she would rather be called ‘sexy’ than ‘nani’ any day, Apara, during a conversation, light-heartedly states, “I am playing the role of a nani but this nani is completely different from others nanis. She is quite modern, goes to the spa regularly and dresses up very smartly. On the sets, I do not answer to anybody who calls me nani, I like to be called sexy.”
Apara underlines that “television has come a long way from the ’90s when one could put together anything for half an hour and it would click with the masses. After that came a phase of saas-bahu serials, then came rural stories, then comic shows. I did some comic shows but as far as rural stories were concerned, I did not see myself fitting into that mode because I cannot look like a farmer or a poor lady. The only character I would have played was of a thakurain. I have played comic roles.”
Now, she is comfortable doing Jamai Raja, a serial which tries to look at the society from a different perspective. Says Apara, “You have seen bahus on the television as the binding factor, someone who strings her new family together after marriage and is often called upon to sort out differences and mend bridges between family members who cannot see eye to eye. Our show Jamai Raja breaks the stereotype and showcases an interesting reversal of roles where instead of the bahu, it is the jamai who attempts to repair estranged relationships.”
Will Jamai Raja click with the audience and how long will it continue?
“This is a new concept and we all hope that it will be taken well by the audiences, and as far as the duration of the show is concerned, it again depends on the audiences. When I was doing Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, people used to ask me why the show is going on for so long, and I used to ask them, when did you watch the last episode? They used to say, last night. I told them that this is the answer to your question. Because you are interested in it, so it is going on and on.”
She goes on to say that as far as she is concerned, she does a serial only for a certain period of time. “Once I get bored I tell the director I want to move away.”
That is when she recharges her batteries in the U.S. and the U.K. doing theatre. After that, life comes a full circle for Apara and she dons the grease paint for a new television serial all over again.
Other actors of the show are Ravi Dubey who will be playing Jamai. Nia Sharma is the leading lady and Achint Kaur will play her mother and Ravi’s mother-in-law. Also seen will be Delnaz Irani and Shruti Ulfat. The show is produced by Ashwani Yardi and actor Aksay Kumar’s banner Grazing Goats Pictures.
(Jamai Raja starts begins on August 4 at 8.30 p.m. on 4th of August on Zee TV and will run Monday to Friday at 8.30 p.m.)
