Saumya Tandon, who began her acting journey with Aisa Des Hai Mera (2006) before making her Bollywood debut with Jab We Met (2007), is looking forward to the release of Dhurandhar. The actress returns to the big screen with this film after many years.

Speaking about her role, Saumya says, “I can’t reveal much about my character. It’s a small but serious role. I said yes because I’ve always wanted to work with director Aditya Dhar. Sometimes you take up projects simply because you want the opportunity to collaborate with the people involved. It was Mukesh Chhabra who called me and told me that the part is small but I should blindly do it. It's quite an intense part. I am looking different and people haven't seen me doing something like this before.”

What drew her to the film, she explains, is the cast. “I feel Ranveer Singh is the most powerful actor we have in the industry. He’s special and incredibly talented. Honestly, I was a little greedy to work with Akshaye Khanna as well. He has been reinventing himself, and it’s a pleasure to watch him perform. My biggest takeaway is that when you work with talented directors and actors, your own work automatically becomes better. You get inspired just by being around people with such skills.”

Recalling her debut in Jab We Met, Saumya says, “It feels like ages ago. I had met Imtiaz Ali for another project, but he called me for this one instead. I planned to hide behind this small character and learn the ropes. I did it simply because I loved Imtiaz and the way he narrated the story.”

She adds, “After Jab We Met, I got busy hosting on television, and then Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai happened. I never planned my career; I was an outsider and simply picked up things that came my way. Even then, I remained choosy, but I worked with what was available to me at the time.”

The actress, who will mark her last day on the sets of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai tomorrow,talks to BT about her reasons to quit the show and her future plans
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; August 20, 2020)

Actress Saumya Tandon, who became popular as Gori Mem of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, has decided to bid adieu to the comedy show. In an exclusive chat with BT, she said, “Yes, I have decided to not renew my contract further. Tomorrow (August 21) is my last day of shoot. Finally, people can stop speculating whether I will continue on the show or not.”

So, what made her quit the show, that too, at a time when many actors are out of work? “Well, you can say that it’s an impractical decision to quit a stable job, that too, in an established show. But, I realised that being employed and earning a regular income was not exciting enough any more. I want to do projects, where there is scope for growth as an artiste. Having said that, it does not mean that Bhabi Ji... did not contribute to my growth, I had a beautiful journey on the show. However, I have played this character for five years now, and I don’t see myself doing it for another five years,” she replied.

There has been buzz for some time now that Saumya is planning to quit the show due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent pay cut. However, she refuted the rumours, saying, “Not continuing with Bhabi Ji... was not an impulsive decision. Yes, I was anxious after my hairdresser tested positive for Coronavirus, and did not want to put my mother and one-and-a-half-year-old son at risk. But, I have completed my notice period. My producers (Sanjay and Binaifer Kohli) were very cooperative. As far as pay cut is concerned, in these times, people have to accept that the economy has been hit. I am not leaving the show because of monetary reasons.”

About her future plans, she said, “I want to be part of well-written stories. People are writing good scripts on other platforms; even Bollywood is experimenting with good content. I will miss the team of Bhabi Ji..., but I have to push myself out of my comfort zone and take new risks in life.”

Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 29, 2020)

The debate around discrimination on the basis of colour has been revived again, after two multinational companies announced their decision to drop the use of words such as ‘fair’ and ‘whitening’ from their beauty products. And actor Saumya Tandon is very happy.

“You can call someone fair or not fair, that is fine. People calling me ‘fair’ is not an abuse, neither am I apologetic about it. I just want to say every colour is beautiful. But unfortunately, the conditioning in our society is such that they associate the word ‘lovely’ with fair. That means, they feel only girls who are fair, are lovely, which is not the right notion,” she says.

However, Tandon, too, had to face a bias due to her fair complexion. “I lost out on a lot of work because they said ‘she is too fair’, and abroad, they perceive an Indian girl to be ‘brown’. It’s so stereotypical. They will not accept any other colour. No wonder that 99% Indian origin actors are shown as brown in projects abroad.” she says. In fact, she adds that recently, there was an international film, which she lost out on because another girl, who was not fair, got the part. Tandon adds that she would tell the casting directors in the West that India has people of all complexions.

“A lot of photographers like dark-skinned models because somehow, they feel they are more exotic, or they are going to be better for a saree or jewellery ad because Indian-ness, in their head, is brown. That is not fair to girls like us. What about girls from Kashmir, Punjab, they are fair, don’t you call them Indian?,” she asks.

On her comedy show Tandon, 35, is frequently called ‘gori mem’ (fair lady). Does she feel that, she too, at some point, is classified based on her skin colour? She says she doesn’t. “I don’t think of it as an abuse, as long as they are not saying we will prefer you because you are gori. This is how God made me,” she signs off.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 7, 2020)

While the guidelines to restart shootings for film and TV shows have been released, there are a number of details to be figured out. Actor Saumya Tandon, who stars in a popular sitcom, has some tough questions.

“The guidelines say only 33% of a standard unit will be operational but I think everyone on set has to be tested for Coronavirus even if they don’t show symptoms. There is no such point recommended in the guidelines,” says Tandon, adding, “Our nature of work is such that we work in close intimacy as we have people who do our make up and hair, people who fix our mics or sari, shoot in close contact with co-stars, and so many other things unlike a regular office where people are in cubicles and can maintain distance.”

Tandon adds that she needs assurance that everyone is tested once shoots start. The actor points out that a number of her co-actors are happy to go back to work but while the guidelines are formed, we need to “have a monitoring agency to ensure they are followed”.

“The guidelines also say that everyone will be stationed where they are shooting. Moreover, we need to have a monitoring agency to ensure all the guidelines are followed by production houses. It will be up to the individuals to do their bit. Everyone is so desperate to get back to work as everyone is worried about their livelihoods that it can lead to lapses and carelessness. It is scary. The channel heads and creative teams won’t be on the sets while actors and unit members will be. So we have to take extra precautions,” she says.

Smita Poojary (DNA; August 7, 2019)

Saumya Tandon aka Anita bhabhi from Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai is on cloud nine as the show completed 1,000 episodes recently. Ironically, she wasn’t keen on doing the comedy series earlier! The actress says, “I had reservations about joining the daily soap bandwagon as I like the seasons concept more. I was also reluctant because the set was far away.” After being in talks for seven-eight months, she came on-board. “When I look back, I don’t see it as a wrong decision. It’s one of the best shows on Indian television currently,” she says.

Excerpts from a chat...

You’ve been on Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai for four years now. Isn’t that a long time?
I hadn’t tried comedy as much as I’ve done on this show. In that sense, I did learn a lot and explored myself as an actor. But I was always sure that I didn’t want to do caricature-ish or loud comedy. I wanted to make it look spontaneous. Also, our helmer is not a typical TV director. He understood where I was coming from and gave me some ideas, too.

The show has on occasion aimed to create social awareness...
Honestly, I don’t think our show is teaching anything at all because imagine, the husband is eyeing another man’s wife, which is not good. So, husbands shouldn’t learn anything from it. There is not much of social awareness, but we have promoted initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan because we believe in it.

You started as a reality show host. Are you still open to it?
Anchoring is close to my heart and I have not stopped being a host just because I’m acting.

What about the digital space?
Why not? It’s an interesting place to be in. I would not say that everything happening is great, but if there is an interesting script or a powerful concept, I would jump at it.

You welcomed a baby recently. How has life changed now?
There is a lot more hard work now as balancing home and work life is challenging. I don’t have time for any kind of leisure or social life. I don’t go out for coffee or lunch with friends. I sleep and wake up on time; often, I sleep much lesser than what I used to. Things are hectic but I have become more efficient and organised. I feel, women who have babies and are working at whatever level, are real soldiers.

What was the first day away from the baby like?
I was never around my son for all 24 hours. I would step out for two-three hours a day. But to be without Miraan for nine to 10 hours was a little scary.

You’re back in top shape already...
I didn’t do anything drastic. I was consistent and exercised right from the seventh month of pregnancy. I’d recommend it to every woman — walking is especially important. I was extremely regular — not at heavy workouts but whatever is recommended for a pregnant lady. I started walking 10 days after delivering. I did not exercise for a few days but after 40 days, I started Pilates. All small steps added up to the final result.

What kind of projects do you want to do next?
I’d like to be part of a good script, which, according to me, is the winner. There is so much exposure to the world with OTT platforms and foreign films so easily available. So, typical formulas do not work. I’m a sucker for a good script. I would struggle to get the next good script to work on. I’d like to do anything with a good concept, even if it’s a small film.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 14, 2018)

BT was the first to report about Saumya Tandon — popular as Gori Mem on Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai! — planning to go the family way after the news of her quitting the show surfaced in July. Back then, Saumya had dismissed the rumours. Apparently, she had intimated the production house of her decision to quit the show in March, as she wanted to explore new opportunities.

Yesterday, the actress announced the news of her her pregnancy on social media. Saumya was serving her six-month notice period when she conceived. She tells BT, “Rumours about my pregnancy were doing the rounds much before it actually became a reality, but I am grateful that everything has fallen into place. I know there will be many questions about my show, to which I just want to say that there is a right time and place to answer them. I have immense respect for the show, and I share a great rapport with my producers. They have been very supportive and my bond with the team goes beyond the show. They have been like family.”

Talking about the new phase in her life, she adds, “It’s finally happening. I am pregnant. It has been an overwhelming ride and I think that it will be fascinating, with its ups and downs. I feel like I am walking on the moon on some days, and scared and nervous on the rest. It’s magical what my body can do — create a new life. I feel empowered and beautiful these days. Sometimes, my husband (Saurabh Devendra Singh) is more nervous than me.”

Ask Saumya if she will continue working and she replies, “I’ve been asked this question many times; there is nothing stopping me from doing what I love. I will continue to act. My baby will be my strength and I have full faith that I will do better.” 

TV’s hot bhabhiji talks about how she was scared to commit to a daily soap, her equation with former costar Shilpa Shinde and why she chose to keep mum about her marriage
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 11, 2018)

Saumya Tandon is in no hurry. She likes to take her time while making key decisions, be it professional or personal. It’s evident from the fact that in a career spanning 10 years, she has done just three fiction shows. Currently popular as ‘Gori Mem’ on Bhabi ji Ghar Par Hai, Saumya takes us by surprise when she reveals that it took her seven months to give her nod to the show.

She says, “Nothing inspiring was coming my way. I wanted to take up a seasonal or non-fiction show because being committed to a daily soap is nothing short of a marriage. It’s a huge decision, which is why I developed cold feet. However, Bhabiji... seemed to be the perfect choice, as I am not cut out for a mythological show, a typical saas bahu saga or a slapstick comedy. Also, I was busy hosting non-fiction shows, which left me with ample time to pursue other interests.”

For an actress who is constantly seeking quality work, doesn’t playing the same character for three years get monotonous? “The best part is that I get to play a different character every second week. I have played a politician and a cop in the past on the show. Having said that, the day I lose inspiration, I’ll throw in the towel,” she replies, adding, “You see, the struggle isn’t to get work, it is to get good work. A thinking actor is always struggling for impressive scripts, especially on TV where there is so little quality work. I hope to reach a position in my career where I can pick the best of roles.”

Considering the fact that Bhabi ji... is about two neighbours hitting on each other’s wives — a concept that could have easily bordered on crudity and vulgarity — was she apprehensive about taking the risk? The actress admits, “I was really scared, but fortunately, everything turned out fine. I won’t take any credit for it, though. The show is blessed with a great team.”

The show was in news after her co-actor Shilpa Shinde was replaced overnight. So much so, people had even raised doubts over the fate of Bhabi ji... Saumya says, “I would be the wrong person to answer that, as I don’t understand the dynamics of television viewing. The shows I haven’t liked have fared well and actors, whose work I have appreciated, have not won awards. However, I did fear that the show will take a hit because the audience associates a face with a character. Moreover, it’s difficult to replace an actor, especially in comedy, as the genre needs performers. What saved Bhabi ji... is that no one actor is big on the show.”

About her equation with Shilpa, Saumya elaborates, “I had a strictly professional relationship with her. All I know is that she fit the role perfectly. People can see how she is in real life on Bigg Boss. I watched an episode of the show, but couldn’t follow it further.”

Ask Saumya if she would like to participate in the reality show and pat comes the reply, “I would be a disaster; I will be shot dead by the makers as I won’t give them any controversial content. I can’t fight.”

On the personal front, Saumya tied the knot with businessman Saurabh Devendra Singh in December 2016 in a hush-hush ceremony. Though she refused to talk about the wedding then, she finally opens up to us. “I am ferociously protective about my personal life. When something is precious and close to your heart, you wouldn’t want it to come in the limelight for people to judge. In fact, I declined to be a part of Nach Baliye for the same reason,” she says, adding, “I keep telling my husband that I was snatched in the cradle as he is quite older to me (laughs). I have known him for 10 years, but we didn’t date as we were never in the same city for almost seven years. He moved away for further studies when I was in college, and we were in touch only through mails and phone calls. I eventually told him that we have to be in the same city if we wanted to give our future together a chance. That was also one of the reasons I didn’t talk about my relationship — even I didn’t know what lay ahead, and life and relationships are unpredictable. However, he left everything and returned to India for me; that’s something I will always cherish and appreciate.”

With so many marriages falling apart, what’s her mantra for a successful marriage? “I am still figuring it out. I hope my marriage works, I will be shattered if it doesn’t. I was in a long-distance relationship for years, and there was an unspoken commitment between us. That said, I wouldn’t recommend a long distance relationship to anyone as it’s horrible. You miss each other and don’t know what to do about it. Our relationship survived because our bond was strong,” she signs off.