Sonali Bendre who makes her acting foray on TV with Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye talks about her role and more
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 27, 2014)


After judging half-a-dozen reality shows, finally you also got bitten by the acting bug on TV...
Yes, and I am wondering why? It’s really scary. For one, I am not used to shooting such long hours. Secondly, on reality shows I am being myself saying and doing what I want. Here, I am playing a character, something which I haven’t done for a long time. I had nightmares about shooting for the show. People say acting is like bicycle riding — once you learn, you never forget it. Still, I was apprehensive about hitting the right note. I am also nervous about how people will accept it.

What prompted you to take up the show?
Honestly, it was the role and the several shades to the character. Plus, the fact that I am playing my age. I have lived my life the way I want to and I have no desire to re-live my 20s. Another thing that appealed to me is it’s a finite show so you know where you are going and where it is ending.

Isn’t it about extra-marital relationship?
The way I look at it is it’s about the journey this woman goes through. There are layers to my character and it’s part of a plot. The way I approach the story is different. It’s about a woman who has been married off at the age of 22 after her graduation. She is a housewife and has always been somebody’s somebody. There comes a point in her life when she thinks she needs to start working. Even for a working woman like me who hasn’t been part of the industry for 10 years to start picking up from where one has left is a big deal, so imagine how it will be for a woman who has never worked to start building a life again. I connected with the role because my mother used to always tell us three sisters that we have to be independent. She was a housewife so it must have come from a place where she felt that and it reasonated with me.

The promos show your character as sweet and Apurva Agnihotri’s as arrogant.
Actually, Apurva is not arrogant but quirky, and audience will love that. He has an obsessive compulsive disorder and till you know about it, it’s irritating. But there’s a different layer to his character. That’s the beauty of this show.

What was your husband Goldie Behl’s reaction to your doing the show?
Frankly, I had said no to the show initially. The channel head Ajit (Thakur) then called up Goldie to ask why I was turning down such a good role. Goldie and I never discuss work, but Ajit knows Goldie so he called him. When Goldie heard the role he was surprised. He asked me why I was refusing when I always said I don’t want to do films because I don’t get to play my age. He was like, ‘here you are getting a role which fits you perfectly, you look good and I know you can do it.’ I was still hesitant because that would mean leaving my son for longer hours, but Goldie convinced me saying I had stayed with him for seven years and now that he is nine he also needed to be independent and it would be good for me too!

Will we see you making a comeback to films now?
No, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara was an exception. Shobha aunty (Shobha Kapoor) called my mom-in-law and I did it. Even now, though Ekta is producing the show, the channel called me. However, I wanted to make sure everything is smooth because it’s a family thing. TV is much more organised and structured compared to films. Also, I cannot go on long outdoor shoots, so no films as of now.