20th March, Mumbai: Priyamvada Kant portrays Chaman Bahar in Woh Toh Hai Albelaa (WTHA). The show is being produced by Rajan Shahi’s Directors Kut Production (DKP). She was last seen in Tera Mera Saath Rahe. Happy being a part of the fiction, the actor talks about what prompted her to say yes to it, the pressure of entering a show midway and more.
“The first reason for choosing the show is DKP because Rajan Sir asked me to do it and I have worked with them. They’re extremely passionate about the characters they have made and in TV there are very few shows that are character-driven shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (YRKKH) and Anupama. So that’s why when he was so interested in building a new character on the show, I was very keen and that’s why I didn’t even think twice even though the language and everything is very difficult as there are 8-9 mixed languages that have been used. Also another reason is my dad. He is from Bihar, and I’m a Bihari by birth. But I didn’t ever learn how to speak the language. So I would like to dedicate this role to him, I really hope he can see it,” she says.
Priyamvada’s look in the show is very interesting. “She has lived in the forest all her life but she knows about technology, Bhojpuri music and she is a big fan. So it is a atrangi character.
The fact that the show talks about relationships and bonds is something that I really enjoy. All the shows of Rajan sir are more focused on relationships and always have interesting presentations,” she adds.
About entering a show midway, Priyamvada says that it’s not an easy task. When everyone else knows their parts, the new entrant has to build a character from scratch.
“Aur phir aate hi there’s so much dhamaka that this new character creates. So it’s very difficult. There’s a lot of pressure but that has sort of become my second nature. I have been entering a lot of existing shows. Probably people think that I’m good at handling this pressure. But the team is wonderful and everyone is very nice from the production to co-actors. They’re extremely supportive,” she says.
Calling Rajan and his team wonderful people, she adds, “Everyone who works in Directors Kut Productions, they are called the DKP family and it’s precisely for a reason because they’re very nice. They really care for you like a family. They’re sweet, understanding and the working atmosphere is extremely healthy. I wouldn’t ever say no for anything they ask me to do.”
While YRKKH and WTHA are special, Tenali Rama has been the landmark show in Priyamvada’s career. “Till date people love me as Sharda. After that anything that is close to me in terms of how difficult the character is Woh toh hai Albelaa. Chaman Bahar is not somebody you have seen in your daily life. It’s an imaginary character. Sharda too was a character that no one has heard about. Playing her was also very difficult,” she shares.
The best thing about the entertainment industry is how it makes many smile. “People get attached to the television industry, to the characters and they want to wake up and find out what is going on in their life. So you become a part of their household, which is beautiful,” she smiles.
About her learning from the industry and competition, she says, “Now it has become very different and difficult to run shows for a very long time because I think the attention span of people has changed. OTT has created a revolution, people watching stuff for 15 seconds and it is very difficult to hold onto their attention for long. We have to get used to the change and people are still watching television, doing a lot of work, new production houses and news channels coming up, new shows being launched every day. I think there’s room for everyone and if you’re good at what you do, you will get work.”
As an artist Priyamvada is keyed up to do more. “I’m more driven than ambitious. I really love to work, play different characters and till the time I enjoy doing it, I do it. It’s not about wanting to earn money or to get famous. If I really associate with the character, I enjoy playing it. My goal in life y is to just do a lot of different characters and keep entertaining my audience in whichever way I can,” she ends.
