Marathi serials are now days looking for fresh faces, who besides acting should also look smart. Gone are the days, when the leading actress dressed up in a Sari or Punjabi dress used to move on the screen carrying a glass of water or a cup of tea for their husbands. Now, their place has been taken by young modern day girls wearing jeans and tops sitting in a coffee shop with their group of friends and using laptops at home. Revathi ( Reva) played by Bhakti Desai, is one such character in the serial ‘Kashala Udyachi Baat’ on Star Pravah, who invites attention of one and all.
Bhakti plays the central role of a stylish modern day girl from an upper middle class family, who is well aware of her limits, observes the customary rituals and is smart enough to take certain decisions. Marathi Movie world had a chit chat with Bhakti to know more about her acting career.
Excerpts from the discussion:
Q: Tell us how you landed into acting field ?
A: Since second year of my college, I started performing in commercial stage plays. Before that I used to take part in Inter-collegiate competitions representing Ruparel College. After graduation, I decided to take up acting as my career and started performing on stage. I did 108 shows of ‘Hridayi Vasant Fultanna’ directed by Vijay Kenkre. Then I also played the role of Rashmi with Sanjay Narvekar in 85 shows of popular comedy drama ‘Bajirao Mast Mi’. Besides that I was associated with amateur theatre groups and performed there too.
Q: Besides stage, were you associated with any other serials or films before?
A: To say, something about television, in the past I have done programmes for
Bhakti Desai, ‘Kashala Udhyachi Baat’, Doordarshan’s popular programme ‘Kilbil’. I have yet to act in films and it is my wish to perform on big screen.
Q: Tell us how you were selected to play Revathi in ‘Kashyala Udyachi Baat’?
A: During inter-collegiate competitions many well known people from industry used to come as Judges and one of them happened to be Mr. Vidyadhar Pathare, the producer of the serial. After watching me perform that time, he had approached me for a role, but since my college was going on, I couldn’t accept it. Later, when he decided to do this serial, he once again called me and I agreed to play Revathi.
Q: Did you receive special training in acting from any individual or institute ?
A: My association with different groups and performing with them, itself trained me for different types of roles. Whether it was Avishkar or Mitthak, they all helped me improvise further. I had performed in Satyadev Dube’s Hindi commercial play ‘Thamb Lakmi Kunku Lawte’ which also helped me a lot. There are people like Iravati Karnik , Advait and others who offered a lot of guidance.
Q: How much do you believe in success ?
A: Anything is possible, provided you sincerely work hard in a positive direction to achieve the same.
Q: How much do you believe in Horoscope & Palmistry ?
A: Not exactly! Unless someone tries to explain in a convincing manner logically, I may believe in it. But, as I said, unless I experience myself, I don’t easily believe in such things.
Q: On the set, you have performed with many senior artistes. What have you learned from them ?
A: While working on the set, I observed their way of presenting themselves. Each one of them have their own style of working. No one comes to explain you, how you should react at a given situation. We just have to observe them and learn good things. I just did that and enjoyed every moment.
Q: In the initial part of the serial, you worked under Satish Rajwade’s direction. How was your experience with him ?
A: Fantastic! I wish he were there for some more time. As a director, he is the best. He knows the capability of every actor and accordingly extracts the best out of them.
Q: Do you have any other projects in hand ?
A: At present, I am involved in ongoing serial only. But, would surely like to do a film.