Actress Shruti Sharma, who is playing the character of Musaddi Lal’s daughter ‘Anokhi’ in the new season of ‘Office-Office’, shared many stories related to her struggles, career and personal life. Shruti, who traveled from Pratapgarh to Mumbai, told Dainik Bhaskar how she became a victim of casting fraud, got her first big opportunity after being rejected five times and made her mark in the industry with the help of her family. He also talked about ‘Hiramandi’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the struggle of the TV industry and his principles. Question: How did you feel on getting the news of being a part of the new season of ‘Office-Office’? Answer: To be honest, I did not believe it at first. After 25 years, if someone says that a new season of ‘Office-Office’ is being made, then it seems like a joke. But after another call and meeting, it was realized that this was really happening. I was quite nervous in the beginning. It seemed that people would compare the new show with the old ‘Office-Office’. This was a big challenge. But after reading the script with director Rajan sir and the entire cast, I got confidence. We thought we would be able to do a good job. Question: How was the first day on the sets of ‘Office-Office’? Answer: All the artists were excited on the first day. Before the shooting started, a puja was also held, in which Umesh sir and his family participated. The best part was that the makers had created a positive environment right from the beginning. The set was designed like the old ‘Office-Office’. I was very nervous on the first day. My first scene was also in the first episode. Even today, when I watch that scene, I see nervousness on my face. Question: Are the old ‘Office-Office’ actors also in the new season? Answer: No, none of the old cast is a part of this show. It was good for us. If we had to share the screen with him, we would have become more nervous. However, our characters are connected to the old characters. Like I have become Anokhi, daughter of Musaddi Lal. Someone is someone’s nephew, someone is someone’s brother-in-law or brother-in-law. But the story and script are completely new. We did not copy the old show. Question: How is the character of ‘Anokhi’? Answer: Musaddi Lal used to return upset after visiting government offices. But his daughter Anokhi is completely different. His mother has told him since childhood that his father was a brave and victorious person. That’s why Anokhi feels that she too can win every fight. She faces difficulties, gets stuck many times, but does not give up. At the end of every episode, she gets her work done and also teaches the other person a lesson. Be it Sama, Daam, Dand or Bheda, he has to adopt any method. Question: What are Anokhi’s weaknesses? Answer: Anokhi is not an idealistic character. He is human and has his shortcomings. If she feels that she has to take a shortcut to get some work done, she does not back down. Many times she tries to get the work done by paying money and later becomes a victim of fraud. She also tricks others in many episodes. This is what makes his character interesting. Question: Have you ever been scammed? Answer: Yes, I too have been cheated. While preparing to come to Mumbai, I got a call. The person in front introduced himself as a casting director and said that I have been selected for a TV show. He asked for Rs 10 to 15 thousand in the name of registration. At that time I was teaching in school and was saving money by working hard. I sent the money, but later his phone got switched off and it went missing. I cried a lot at that time. My salary was only three thousand rupees and I had barely managed to earn that amount. Question: Did you decide at that very moment that you wanted to act? Answer: Yes. My father was against it initially. She believed that this industry is not safe for girls. It took a lot of time to convince him. I wrote a play in 2016. Casting, rehearsing and staging it with my brother. People liked that play. After this the family believed that I could do something in the field of acting. After this I decided to come to Mumbai. Question: How did you decide to come to Mumbai? What was the family’s reaction? Answer: After that drama, I had almost decided to come to Mumbai, but did not tell my father directly. My train was the next day and that night mom and brother explained it to him. Initially he was surprised, but eventually agreed. The whole family had come to the station to drop me. That moment was emotional. Question: How was the beginning after coming to Mumbai? Answer: After coming to Mumbai, I lived in a small rented house with three girls in Chakala area of Andheri East. This was a new experience for me. I came to Mumbai on 26 October 2017 and on 28 October I got a call for the audition of ‘India’s Next Superstar’. I auditioned and got shortlisted. After this the workshop continued for two months. However, I was rejected five times. At one time I returned to Lucknow disappointed. But the day I reached there, I got a call that I had been selected and I would have to come back to Mumbai. There was no money, so he got me a ticket and my career started from there. Question: What was your plan during the days of struggle? Answer: My father gave me two years time. He had said that if nothing happened in two years, he would have to come back and get married. I had thought that if acting didn’t work, I would take up a job. I was already teaching, so I was confident that I would get a job in some school or institute. I believed that one should bear the expenses of one’s dreams. Question: How was your education? Answer: I have done graduation. After this he did Post Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing. Also took training in Bharatnatyam. I have always been inclined towards art and literature. I liked subjects like literature and psychology. I had once thought that I would become a professor, but fate brought me to the world of acting. Question: How did you get your first big opportunity? Answer: My first Telugu film was ‘Agent Sai Srinivas Athreya’. I was shooting for it in Hyderabad. At the same time, an audition call came for the TV show ‘Gathbandhan’. Due to shooting I could not go immediately. When she returned to Mumbai after receiving several calls, she auditioned and got selected. That’s where I started in the TV industry. Question: How was the Telugu film received? Answer: I did a Naagin act during ‘India’s Next Superstar’. The director of the film saw the same performance and he liked my work. After this I got a film offer. I couldn’t believe it in the beginning because I had never been to South India. But I liked the story and I did the film. The film got a good response, but at that time I was busy with the TV show ‘Gathbandhan’, so could not be a part of the promotion. Question: Which was the most special character of your career? Answer: All my characters have been loved by the audience. But the first show is always special. ‘Gathbandhan’ gave me recognition and took me to every home. Apart from this, the character of ‘Namak’ is also close to my heart. The theme of that show was strong and the audience loved it. Question: How was your experience with long working hours in the TV industry? Answer: I have worked continuously for 20 to 22 hours. In the beginning we did not know much about our rights. During the ‘gathbandhan’, senior artists told that working hours can be fixed in the contract. After this, I started adding a condition in the contract that I would work only for a limited number of hours daily. Question: How was the experience of working in ‘Hiramandi’? Answer: Very nice. I placed myself there as a new artiste. I thought I just had the talent and I had to learn. There were big actors on the set, so we got to learn something new every day. The discipline and speed learned in TV came in handy in ‘Hiramandi’. Sanjay Leela Bhansali sir is a talented director. His vision is big and he pays equal attention to every small artist. He kept an eye on the anklets and hairstyle of any junior artist on the set. To work with him one has to leave aside ego and trust his vision. Question: How did you get ‘Hiramandi’? Answer: I was shooting for the TV show ‘Namak Ishq Ka’, when the call for audition came. I recorded the audition in the makeup room itself. After this met Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Sitting in front of him was like a dream for me. I did not think that I would be selected, but luckily I got this opportunity. Question: How much did ‘Hiramandi’ benefit your career? Answer: It was very beneficial. The show was released in 192 countries and messages started coming in from people all over the world. As an artist, I felt that my work had received global recognition. Because of this show, I got many good projects in future. Question: Do you get film offers? Answer: Yes, offers come. But I have some conditions. I like to do only those things which I can watch while sitting with my family. Sometimes good stories have to be abandoned just because of one or two scenes. I feel sad, but I believe that I will definitely get what is meant for me. Question: Have you also ventured into production? Answer: Yes. My brother and I like to write. We wrote some stories together and then decided to create our own content. We have started work on some vertical dramas and other projects. There are plans to work on films and bigger projects in the future. Question: How do you define success? Answer: For me, success is not just fame. The biggest success is that I have changed people’s thinking. I come from an environment where people believed that to move ahead in the world of acting, one has to make compromises. If any youth after seeing me believes that success can be achieved on the basis of hard work and talent, then that is my biggest achievement. Question: What message would you like to give to the youth? Answer: If you have to give up self-respect or principles for any work, then do not do that work. There are no shortcuts in acting. One has to work hard, give auditions and be patient. Especially to the girls, I would like to say that if someone talks about compromising with you, then leave from there immediately. There are good people in the industry and there is no dearth of opportunities for those who work hard.
Source link
[ad_3]
कास्टिंग स्कैम का शिकार हुई थीं श्रुति शर्मा: बोलीं- एक्ट्रेस बनने से पहले टीवी शो का झांसा देकर एक शख्स ने ₹15 हजार ठग लिए थे
