My daughter doesn't show any interest in camera: Rakshandha Khan

Seasoned actress Rakshanda Khan recently made a comeback in a full-fledged role with Ekta Kapoor's Brahmarakshahas. In an interview with the TimesOfIndia.com, the actress spoke about her role, motherhood and her friendship with Tennis star Sania Mirza.
Ques: You experience of motherhood?
Rakshandha: I have to admit this. It’s not an easy job to manage the house and a child.I would like to apologise to my mother to have given all the crap to her when I was young.
Ques: How do you take out time for yourself?
Rakshandha: Once you are a mother you don’t have time for yourself. The priority is only my baby and especially when you are a first time mother. You want to do everything for the child and then you realize that you don’t have 10 hands. Now, I have managed to take some time out for myself. Recently, I went to watch a movie and I got a call asking for me to return as my daughter was crying. But my aim is to eventually take a holiday with my husband don’t know how many more years it will take.
READ ALSO:
Rakshanda Khan returns to TV after three years
Ques: Who takes care of your child in your absence?
Rakshandha: So far it has been exceptionally lucky for both of us. The days I am shooting somehow he has a holiday. If my call time is early then my husband’s is late. The day I come late he is early and vice versa. Obviously, I know this is not going to continue for long. But we are lucky that his mother stays with us and my mom is just 5 minutes away from our place. She is very used to staying with her naani (maternal grandmother). I also want her to spend a lot of time with her because at some point I wanted to get back to work.
Ques: 18 month daughter, how do you cope up without her?
Rakshandha: First three days were extremely tough. Since my husband was at home on that particular day I asked him to send some videos. She was busy playing, watching nursery rhymes, sitting on a swing with the naani. She slept and in between when she asked for me she was distracted. The best thing about the kid is that you can get them accustomed to what you want them to. They feel insecure when they don't have their loved ones. I am blessed that we live with our family and my child is also blessed. Someone or the other is constantly there around either her naani, father or cousins. Ever since I have started working everyone has started pampering her. I thought the moment I go back she will hug me and cry but no such drama.
Ques: You are back with a Ekta kapoor show?
Rakshandha: There are many reasons primarily because its Ekta's finite series. Thankfully by God’s grace I have had a good equation with Ekta Kapoor. She has always been someone who has offered me good roles. If I am getting back to work then there must be a damn good reason for it. I was clear about one thing, I will only step out of my house, If I have a good or a prominent role. This was one such role. Again, I was going to be part of the production house that I have done 90 per cent of my work with why would I say no to them. And it’s a finite series which I have never worked in before. Now I know when the show starts and will end. So, now I will plan my holidays accordingly. I think I will be shooting for 7-8 months.
READ ALSO:
Working with husband will become a fight: Rakshanda Khan
Ques: Tell us something about your role?
Rakshandha: My character Mohini is of a strong women who is the matriarch of the house. This is story about Rishab and Raina coming together to unravel the entire suspense about what happens in Kamalpura which is Mohini's ancestral place.
Ques: You also did Adaalat?
Rakshandha: There was a constant battle in my mind that my child is too small will she be able to adjust? That's when Contiloe called me for Adaalat..They told me they need only a certain time frame. It's an in and out kind of thing where I am playing a public prosecutor. It was episodic and they didn’t need long dates. Ronit is my Rakhi brother and so he has a special place in my heart. Then I thought since I have to work, let me test the water. I did two episodes that was actually my make or break. Is my daughter going to be okay with me stepping out of the house. I had never left her with anyone till then and she was extremely used to me. But those two days she was quite happy even when I was not around. Then I decided to do something longer, then the logical step is it to do a finite series came. I was just lucky that I got offered this show.
Ques: Are there any similar traits between you and your daughter?
Rakshandha: My daughter doesn’t show any interest in camera. I think she will become a PT Usha or wrestler. She loves wrestling all day with her father. Climbing, sitting on his shoulder. I was just thinking how can a lazy person like me have an active daughter like her, but she has gone entirely on her father. I love to eat she hates to eat.
Ques: What are the changes you see in working style of TV industry?
Rakshandha: I come here with no expectations. I am lucky that I am married to a balanced person who will not let anything affect him. One thing he told me is that you are going on a new set for new experience go with a clean slate, don’t go with any pre-conceived notion. Treat it as an absolutely first day of something new. If you don't start something new on a positive note then how is it going to continue. On the first day itself I enjoyed working with everyone with so much. There is a mad energy on the sets. Its been such good experience thank god I worked with good people. When you gel with people, life is so much easier.
Ques: Are you attracted to thrillers?
Rakshandha: I think thrillers are very attracted to me (Laughs). I started my career with Kya Hadsa and now I have come back with Brahmarakshas. I am happy doing any format. As an actor its important for me to explore more genres. Unfortunately, you don’t get much opportunities in TV like in films. Thankfully I still had the opportunity to do both positive and negative characters. I was lucky to explore both the sides. I was lucky that I did Ammaji Ki Galli where I even did comedy but the show didn’t run for long. I got the opportunity to work with someone humongously talented as Fardia jalaal. I am very happy with the format of my current show. The story will keep us on the edge of the seats and if we can translate that for the audience its brilliant.
Ques: Do you think you have a choice because of the seniority?
Rakshandha: I personally believe that I have been just been exceptionally lucky. Because I started with a show like Kya Hadsa... I could have easily been type casted. But right after that that I did Jassi which had by far the most real shades any character on television has ever had. I got to play Mallika who was an out and out cow because she believed that that she deserved the man than anyone else since I saw him from the time he was a child. She had a valid reason then it was followed by Kyunki... which was a positive character that turned negative.
Ques: Sania Mirza and you are friends did you meet her during the launch of her autobiography?
Rakshandha: I was supposed to go for the launch that was on the the second day of my shooting and the press conference was 10 minutes away. I kept on messaging her that I am coming but the shoot never ended. Her press conference got over and she went back to Hyderabad. I didn’t get to see her. That’s how the TV shows work. It's okay, I will read her autobiography someday. Sania is one of the most real person. She is an inspiration to to all. When you speak to her she is so normal you don’t feel that you are talking to a star. She is brilliant and people have to be like her.
Ques: Did you speak to her before she left for Rio Olympics?
Rakshandha: Unfortunately I have not spoken to her but I am in touch with her younger sister because it's her wedding. So, I am co-ordinating more with her. I am hoping that during the wedding I get to spend time with her. Earlier, I would go to Hyderabad or when she came here I would go and meet her. Now, I can't ignore my baby and she too can’t come here so often. Our schedules are unfortunately not permitting us to meet. I have always have friendships which are not bound by how much time I spend whether its Sania, Geeta Kapur. We always picked up from where we have left.
WATCH: Sachin Tyagi missed Rakshanda Khan in Paris - TOI