These are not the days of Humlog, Buniyaad or Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, which had the same cast for years together whom the audiences grew to love and even consider part of their own families. These days it often happens that by the time we start connecting with a character, he or she is killed off, or simply dumped, just for the sake of TRPs.
It thus goes without saying that the present crop of TV actors are always apprehensive about losing their job, no matter how good they are.
Ankita Sharma, who played Laila in Rangrasiya, was asked to leave the show as her track was not getting any TRPs. Gautam Rode, who plays Saras in Saraswatichandra, had to deny rumours that he will be bumped off shortly and a new lead will enter the show. But, Satyajit Sharma’s role in Balika Vadhu, will end as his charecter Basant will be killed off this month as the writers feel that it has reached a dead end. Similarly, the Naved Aslam who plays Osman Abdullah in Beinteha does not have a role at all as he is shown paralysed in bed... he used to be an important character before this track.
Even Anas Rashid who plays Sooraj in Diya Aur Bati was apparently upset as from being the show’s hero he is now sidelined to just being super cop Sandhya’s husband. Guess the producers have taken note, because, the simple and docile Sooraj was recently seen performing hardcore stunts on the show.
We talk to TV actors about how they cope with the continuous tension of having their characters scrapped — after going through the rigmarole of giving auditions, preparing for the characters —, not knowing how their roles will finally shape out and how they deal with the insecurity, given that in TV, nothing is long term these days.
Roshini Wallia, who plays Ajabdey in Maharana Pratap, says, “I am sitting at home right now because with the war scenes going on, only the boys are working presently.
“However, what becomes difficult for us is that once we are committed to a show we have to give them almost 20 days. So we are unable to take up any other show. Now for instance Maharana Pratap is going to take a leap… the stars will be shown as grown ups. We will have to wait until the channel gets the right match…
Once they find the grown ups on par with our characters, we will celebrate our marriage and that will be our last day. ”
Vishal Jadeja, who plays Akbar in the same show adds, “I am 20 years old, but I look 14. My track has taken off again because of the war scenes. Once the show gets over I know I have to find another show, it’s all in the game. There is no need to sit and cry over the past, I am prepared for what may come.” But the actor is thrilled with the fact that he is already getting offers for new shows.
Like Vishal, Ankita Sharma too isn’t worried about finding work. She says, “When we enter this profession we come prepared. When my track was not being able to keep the audiences glued to the TV we decided mutually that it needed to be changed. Life will not finish if we are out of a particular show.”
When asked to comment on rumours about him being upset with his role in Diya... Anas Rashid says, “I am happy with my progress in television… Though we get attached to a particular character and the show, we need not be selfish, we should progress along with the show, only then shall we be able to sustain for a longer period of time.”
But Gunjhe Utreja, who used to play Abhay Kapoor in Madhubala, says, “I walked off the show because the track was not strong. No one is permanent here, SRK took over KBC from Amitabh Bachchan and then Amitabh was back again. Change is the spice of life and life has to move on.
I believe when you leave you get something better in life.”
