Sakshi Tanwar is known for her quiet and strong, yet fiercely independent roles in television and movies. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise to see the actor pack a punch in the web series Mai: A Mother’s Rage, which streamed on Netflix last year.

Her performance as the grief-stricken, distraught, and conflicted mother, who treads a fine balance between the good and morally incorrect, got her nominated in mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT awards in the Best Actor (Female): Series category.

“I did it because it was different and challenging,” starts off Tanwar, who consciously chose the role that helped her explore her skill as an actor, beyond the scope of things she has previously done on television.

“Mai was something I had never done before. It was totally out of my comfort zone. I have played so many central characters before Mai, but this was like a full-on roller coaster. [There was] action, underworld, scams, corruption, crime, anger, guilt, and everything dark that I had not explored earlier. And who wouldn’t want to play a hero who is thrashing baddies and settling scores with them?”

The actor believes that credit should be given where it’s due. Tanwar says that creator Atul Mongia and director Anshai Lal helped her to develop the layered role of Sheel Chaudhary. “I loved the role, but I wasn’t sure if I was suitable for it or [if I] could [even] do it. After the mock shoot, I was exhausted and apprehensive as I realised that it was going to be a demanding shoot. But they were happy and I was on board,” recollects the actor, adding that finding the balance between the good and bad was the best part of the script.

“Sometimes, I would know what to do before the scene would start, but it was a struggle and I would find it somewhere while doing the scene. I can say it has been the toughest project till now.”

Tanwar believes that awards encourage artistes to do better. “Since childhood we are all conditioned to work in a manner that gets us appreciation. So, when you get an award you do feel happy, but my biggest validation is when people tell me that they liked a particular performance. It feels like I got an invisible certificate for my good work.”

Sakshi Tanwar has been nominated in the Best Actor (Female): Series category for Mai: A Mother’s Rage.

The other nominees are:

- Amruta Subhash (Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd)

- Fatima Sana Shaikh (Modern Love Mumbai)

- Huma Qureshi (Maharani S02)

- Masaba Gupta (Masaba Masaba S02)

- Shriya Pilgaonkar (Gulty Minds)

- Shriya Pilgaonkar (The Broken News)

- Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime S02)

There are 16 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.radiocity.in/hitlistott to cast your vote.

Voting lines close on February 22.

With the shoot of the second season of The Family Man long wrapped up, Manoj Bajpayee has had the time to shake the character of Srikant Tiwari off him and is now ready to portray a new role. The actor kicked off the shoot of his next, Dial 100, in Mumbai yesterday. Produced by Sony Pictures and Siddharth P Malhotra's Alchemy Films, the thriller sees Bajpayee join forces with Neena Gupta and Sakshi Tanwar.

Rensil D'Silva, who has previously dabbled in thrillers, including Kurbaan (2009), Ungli (2014) and 24, says Dial 100 is far removed from his earlier works despite belonging to the same genre. "The film will engage the audience with its plot and make them question everything in the proceedings. It's the kind of movie that one has to watch again and again to find a loophole in the mystery. My producers have provided me with a wide canvas, which is inspiring yet daunting," says the director, who has doubled up as the screenplay writer. D'Silva intends to wrap up the film in a start-to-finish schedule in the city.

The sagas that had redefined Indian TV, now hope to win audiences all over again
Sangeeta Yadav (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 14, 2020)

Agreat strategy or crisis management — reruns of phenomenally popular mythological shows Mahabharat and Ramayan or sitcoms Dekh Bhai Dekh and Shrimaan Shrimati during the Coronavirus lockdown are proving to be quite the game-changer on TV. Now, with Balika Vadhu the latest to return, many feel getting back iconic saas bahu sagas such as Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kasautii Zindagi Kay and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, among others, will boost TRPs.

Producer Rajan Shahi feels good shows will resonate whenever they air. “If we bring back saas-bahu shows which started a new phase on Indian TV, broadcasters can cash in on the popularity again,” he says.

Avika Gor, aka the young Anandi of Balika Vadhu, is overwhelmed as her show returns. “It was a one-of-its kind show, and each episode had a message that made a difference,” she says.

Actors who became a household name with these shows also feel it’s a great idea to bring them back.

Urvashi Dholakia aka Komolika of Kasautii... feels people will love to go down memory lane. Other than her show, she says, “I’d also like to see Kahaani... because I love Sakshi Tanwar’s acting and the whole cast was perfect. Even Ghar Ek Mandir and Mehndi Tere Naam Ki were very relatable and the characters beautifully etched.” Echoing the sentiment, Hiten Tejwani of Kyunki... says, “All these shows hold a great recall value and will definitely get a good audience. Even the current generation will be able to connect.”

Though the popular sitcoms are doing well on screen, getting daily soaps back “involves calculative risk”, points out scriptwriter Gajra Kottary. “Most of these are long-running shows and once the lockdown is over, the new shows would be back. Balika Vadhu for instance, went on for eight years, so it will club two episodes and air for an hour daily. So, some broadcasters are playing it safe by going for shows with shorter episodes,” Kottary adds.

Television actor Shivin Narang's Malad building sealed after resident tests COVID-19 positive, says current situation poses a difficulty for senior citizens
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; April 6, 2020)

The past few days have been fraught with anxiety for television actor Shivin Narang — the highrise near Infiniti Mall in Malad west, where he resides, has been identified as a containment zone by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). On Thursday, after one of the residents with a recent history of foreign travel tested positive for Coronavirus, the BMC officials swung into action and sealed the residential complex that consists of six buildings.

Narang, who lives with his parents, says, "The buildings were sealed on Thursday. We have no choice but to adhere to the guidelines. Residents have been told not to step out to buy essentials; we can place orders online or ask for home delivery. The essentials are being dropped at the main gate and we have to pick them up from there." Sakshi Tanwar is among the many small screen stars who stay at the Malad address.

Narang, who was part of the latest instalment of Khatron Ke Khiladi, believes that such extreme actions are necessary in the face of the crisis. However, the actor points out that the current situation may pose difficulty for senior citizens in the buildings. "It is a tough task for senior citizens as it is a huge complex, and they have to walk almost half a kilometre to reach the entrance and pick up their supplies. But we are all following the rules. Everyone has to cooperate to stop the spread of the virus."

Upholding feminists as women more capable than her, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari on her film Ghar Ki Murgi, which stars Sakshi Tanwar, on a modern woman's equation with society
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 9, 2020)

Right from her first movie, Nil Battey Sannata (2015), to her last outing, Panga, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's portrayal of women in cinema has been uninhibited and unapologetic. In the same vein comes her latest offering, the Sakshi Tanwar-starrer Ghar Ki Murgi, that dwells on a modern woman's emotional journey, and her equation with society.

Despite the short having its roots in Indian settings, Tiwari says the story is universal. "Every country fights for equal representation of women. A story like this one represents everyone across the universe. [If one] takes this anywhere, the problem will remain the same, only the faces will change," she says of the film that released online over the weekend.

In a world that frowns upon the word feminism, owing to its ambiguous interpretation, Tiwari too refrains from calling her one, albeit for different reasons. "We've forgotten what the word means. Feminism for me is [a person like] my grandmother, who took care of three kids, and gave them the best education, when her husband passed away early. Or someone like Nirbhaya's mother [Asha Devi], who is fighting for justice without the aid of social media. When people tell me that I am a feminist, I say I am not one at all."

Sakshi Tanwar and Palomi Ghosh discuss why M.O.M. finds takers despite dealing with the same subject as Mission Mangal
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; September 24, 2019)

A month after Mission Mangal delved into the Mars orbiter Mission, the subject has got a digital adaptation in M.O.M. - Mission Over Mars. In a chat with mid-day, lead actors Sakshi Tanwar and Palomi Ghosh discuss the joys of playing scientists and why they are unperturbed by comparisons.

What made you greenlight M. O. M.?
Tanwar: Director Vinay [Waikul] showed me a documentary based on the scientists [who had worked on Mars Orbiter Mission]. Two minutes into the documentary, I knew I had to do the show. After reading the script, I was all the more convinced. Ever since Dityaa [daughter] has become a part of my life, I have become choosy. A show has to be good enough for me to leave my daughter home and head out for a shoot. Ekta [Kapoor, producer] did a smart thing by not telling me that the series was for ALT Balaji, I got to know that after I took on the project.
Ghosh: Since I have been a space enthusiast, it was an easy decision for me once they liked my audition. I had never played a geek before and it was fun doing it. My character is low on emotional quotient and has a high IQ.

Before taking up the project, were you aware that women were instrumental in making Mangalyaan successful?
Tanwar: I remember seeing the photograph of a group of women hugging each other after Mangalayaan was launched successfully. That image had stayed with me. It was the first time there was so much media coverage for the mission.

With Vidya Balan and Akshay Kumar’s Mission Mangal having released last month, comparisons will be inevitable.
Ghosh: The core subject may be common, but the storytelling is from a different point of view. Our narrative is centred around four women. Having said that, I do not want to take away anything from the men in the show because they set an example of what it is to be equals.

The female actors in Mission Mangal had emphasised that they needed Kumar to get a strong opening for the film. Luckily, in television, women enjoy a stronger position.
Tanwar: TV is a medium by women, for women and of women. I am glad that there are female producers, writers, directors and of course, the shows are predominantly about women. Since they are the target audience, the remote is in their hands, too. I am sure some male actors think that we get all the importance. Luckily, I didn’t have co- stars who felt that way.

Sakshi Tanwar on rediscovering her chemistry with Kapoor in Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat, and embracing motherhood
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; April 16, 2019)

Sakshi Tanwar is in the happiest phase of her life as she is discovering the joys of motherhood with daughter Dityaa. On the professional front, she has reunited with Ram Kapoor for the third season of Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat. Over to Tanwar as she talks about her favourite co-star and discussing mommy duties with Ekta Kapoor.

Was the third season of Karrle... always on the cards?
We had signed a three-year contract with Alt Balaji. When we did the first season, we didn’t know if viewers would want a second edition, and now, we are in the third season. it has been driven by the audience’s response.

Was it hectic juggling this with the web series, The Final Call?
When you’re doing a daily soap, you must report to set every day. But the style of functioning is completely different with a web series. Here, you have to allot 90 to 100 days to the project and wrap it up. I did The Final Call during my break and had to dedicate only a few days to it. So, there was no overlapping of dates.

You have been romancing Ram for years. Does it get repetitive?
When I was shooting for Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, his set of Kasamh Se was close by. But we never thought that we would end up working together. During the last episode’s shoot of Kahaani, Ekta came on the set and said that she had a script for me. Within four months of Kahaani ending, I was offered Bade Acche Lagte Hain. Since I was on a sabbatical, I turned it down for almost two-and-a-half years. But right from the promo shoot of Bade, I realised that Ram and my chemistry is organic.

Most love stories play on conflicts until the leads unite in the end. Is that the only way to make content last for years?
Viewers must be enjoying the plot because they keep asking for more. People like it when Ram and I are pitted against each other, only to unite in the end. Once we are together, the audience has little excitement. They like to see us fight, argue and keep the banter going, which is why the script is designed in that manner.

You two are famous for your on-screen banter. How is your equation off-camera?
Ram and I are poles apart. He is a prankster, who plays little tricks on the set and is very happy with himself for pulling them off. I keep asking him, ‘Ram, how old are you?’

You’ve recently embraced motherhood. How is it at home?
Dityaa knows exactly how to behave with her nana, nani, the nanny and me. Every time she does something wrong, she will flash this big grin and you can’t help falling for it.

Ekta and you are both enjoying parenthood. Do you share notes?
We do. it’s one of the most beautiful phases of our lives, and we have so much to talk about and discuss.

Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; October 20, 2018)

This Dussehra was special for actress Sakshi Tanwar. She celebrated it with her daughter Dityaa. Sakshi adopted the baby girl recently, and ever since, life has changed for the entire family.

Sharing her joy, the single mother says, “With the blessings of my parents and the support of my family and friends, I have adopted a baby girl, who will soon turn nine months old. I am delighted to share my happiness with everyone as I welcome this bundle of joy into my life. This is undoubtedly the greatest moment of my life. My family and I are elated to embrace Dityaa. She is the answer to all my prayers and I feel blessed to have her in my life.”

Sakshi considers the baby a blessing from Goddess Lakshmi and hence, has named her Dityaa, which is one of Goddess Lakshmi’s names. It means, the one who answers prayers.

Shabana Azmi (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 8, 2017)

It was about 11 years ago that the formidable Des Power invited me to chair the first APSA (Asia Pacific Screen Awards) in the Gold Coast of Australia. He felt very strongly that if the Asia Pacific Film Industries got together there was much more that could be offered to world cinema. It was certainly an idea whose time had come. I accepted the invitation with alacrity and was delighted to have the amazing Iranian director Jafar Panahi amongst other notable luminaries on the jury. It was an interesting mix of films that we watched over the next few days. The stories these films told were sometimes different, sometimes the same… about human relationships, about the human spirit rising against all odds, stories of mystery and adventure. What was remarkably different though was the gaze... And I was so thankful to Des Power for giving visibility to a gaze whose inclusion is crucial in world cinema, given that the world is becoming a global village and we need to understand cultures by their own paradigms rather than yardsticks imposed by the West.

Over the years, APSA gained in strength and when Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation became the toast of the world, it was a matter of pride that the seed money for developing the script had come from APSA.

This year, the Indian film Newton won two awards, including the richly deserved Best Actor for Rajkummar Rao. Indian cinema is coming into its own. This was followed by Nitesh Tiwari’s Dangal winning the first Best Asian Film Award at Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). What was heartening was that it won unanimously. The deliberations were held over the phone, the most interesting being a concall with Anupam Kher in Chandigarh, Margaret Pomeranz in Sydney, Adam Torel in Tokyo, Kim Ki Duk in Seol, Lu Chan in Beijing, me in Italy and Russell Crowe, chairman of the jury, in Philadelphia. It has cured me of the terror of technology! There was only one objection that the father seemed cruel to force his will on the girls which was such a patriarchal thing to do. It took some explaining that this was a cultural thing and be that as it may, it was a true story and in a repressed Haryanvi society for the girls to chop off their braids and slip into shorts was a strong stride against convention.

Russell Crowe was very democratic, hearing us out carefully and then said what is important is that it’s a human story that carries across cultures and the cinematic language of the film is contemporary. Sakshi Tanwar who received the award was given a huge applause. She even asked for a hug from Russell Crowe and got it! Diversity and inclusion were being celebrated in earnest.

When I asked Russell Crowe if I could persuade him to come to India, he said his friends have been there and are full of exciting tales about their trips. He would be happy to come if there is something for him to do. I’m sure we can find something worth his while!

Meanwhile, (Garth Davis’s) Lion got all the 12 awards for which it was nominated, including Best Sound for our very talented Nakul Kamte. Saroo Brierley whose real life story it is, went up on stage with moist eyes. He is both Australian and Indian and both his identities were being applauded on that stage.

Backstage in the green room, Rachel Griffiths, one of Australia’s leading female actors, remembered Om Puri with great affection. She had enjoyed working with him in My Son The Fanatic and surprised me by saying that she has watched Dangal a few times over because she is about to direct a film about a father and his 10 children..

At the award ceremony, Anupam was asked to present the Best Actor trophy to Sunny Pawar for his outstanding performance in Lion and my heart filled with pride that one of us was up there on stage amongst the presenters representing India.

Our time has come. We need to tell our stories with confidence in the way we know best. We need to draw from our rich folklore and cultural roots, resist from mining derivative material from the West, rise above our colonial past and tell human stories that cut across cultures in a voice that is Asian. If it needs song and dance... so be it.

Ekta Kapoor on taking a step back from films, her association with Veere Di Wedding and choosing her production company over having a baby
Meena Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 29, 2017)

Until recently, you were part of Bollywood’s power quartet, including Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala. Now, you have taken a back-seat as far as film production is concerned…
Last year was really bad for us in films so I am no longer one of the aforementioned players in the business. I have no qualms about admitting it. It was a conscious decision. I am not equipped to weather big losses because I don’t sell my films to multi-national companies. I seem like a quasi-studio, but in reality, I am actually a production house that made money on television. I don’t have international backing. A flop affects me more and I don’t have the sustaining power to wait for four-five years to cover my losses. I can’t write off my losses even for a year.

Are you taking it slow in film production?
I haven’t backed out of the film race fully because I personally think that all the three media — television, film and digital – will co-exist, but the movie industry has become binary. It’s not as if films are not being consumed. But sometimes, a film can hit rock-bottom while in other cases business can go through the roof. Since content is being consumed across various platforms now, you have to be smarter in your pre-sales; keep less dependency on theatrical. One has to find a method in the madness.

You are now one of the biggest players in the web-series space. You just launched ALT-Balaji.
Yes, it’s where I can tell clutter-breaking stories that people can consume alone. It is engaging, urban and relevant programming. Movies have to be watchable and payable. In other words, when you set out to watch a movie, it has to be an experience or an extravaganza. Otherwise it is app zindabad.

Your next production is Half Girlfriend with Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. How dependent are you on it?
Well, I am excited about the film. It’s young and fresh. I will do everything in my power to promote it but beyond that I am not thinking about the results. Success is such a periodic thing. I have incubated myself from success but I will never give up my efforts to take my company to the top. The outcome is not in my hands though.

One hears that Rhea Kapoor and you have finally firmed up the deal on Veere Di Wedding that features Kareena Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in the lead.
There’s a funny back-story here. Veere is an expensive film and after what my company went through last year, I was not sure whether I would be on-board. Rhea and I met to shake hands and not work together but it is such a fabulous script that my heart is set on it. It is the first film on girl-bonding, the first young film on sisterhood in India, after several stories on boys like Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. I have been a part of Veere Di Wedding from its inception and I can tell you, it will be a cult film. I want to be out there promoting an all-woman cast.

Your former protégé Sushant Singh Rajput seems to have returned to your fold.
Well I can’t tell you right now whether I am working with Sushant or not. But I can say that I have very fond memories of him. He and I met at Chetan Bhagat’s party a few days ago and bonded big time.

One also hears that you have been bonding with Smriti Irani as well…
Can you imagine? I met Smriti and Sakshi (Tanwar) for lunch in Delhi last week, when I was there to promote my app. I was telling them that they should now launch me. My connection with them is so strong. I was telling the most popular leading ladies of two of my longest-running soaps (Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii) that they are both in such positions of power that they should adopt me. Sakshi has just done Dangal, which is the biggest Bollywood blockbuster ever. And Smriti is in the cabinet ministry. I joked, ‘What the hell am I doing in life?’

(Brother) Tusshar beat you to it by having Laksshya (his son).
I love my nephew and I miss him a lot when he is not around. But I only spend an hour or so with him every day. I’m not ready for a bigger commitment just yet. A few days ago, I dropped by Karan Johar’s to meet his twins (Yash and Roohi) who are adorable. He turned around and told me, “Ekta, you do not look like you are interested in getting married. How about having a baby?” But Balaji is my baby. I do not think that a woman is complete only with a child. I might be above 40 but I am not ready for motherhood.