Anita Raj | The actor, who is back on the smallscreen playing Kulwant Kaur Dhillon in Choti Sardarni on Colors, speaks with Shalini Saksena about her role here, the changes she has seen in the industry and her commitment to fitness

We hadn’t seen you on the screen for a couple of years. What kept you busy?

I was busy doing Choti Sardarni, which began in 2019. Then I did a movie which is going to be released soon. Sadly, it still remains untitled. The project is by Pahlaj Nihalani.

So I have been busy. I would also take up every good role that comes my way.

You have a strict fitness regimen. Can you tell us what you do?

It’s not so much about fitness as it is about weight training and high intensity workout. It has been a part of my life for years now. I believe that if you don’t make fitness a part of your life, you can’t achieve anything in life. I have been disciplined when it comes to my workout and eating habits. It is very important now to be fit.

During COVID, people too have started realising that to be healthy is necessary.

You have been in the industry for so long. What are the changes that you have seen?

Portrayal of every character is getting better and better with every movie. Pick up any film today, even the smallest of roles is well-fleshed out. Every generation has its pros and cons. I make it a point that we all sit and eat together.

Today, you have vanity vans. In our times, we would change wherever we could find privacy. Every change is good and acceptable.

will we see in Choti Sarrdaarni this time?

The show is taking a leap, so yes, in that sense viewers will get to see something different. Having said that, the track is not different. The characters are the same.

I am sure people would like to see for themselves what is in store this time round. There should be some suspense. Let’s see what are the twists and turns in store.

Tell us about Kulwant Kaur Dhillon.

My character, as a personality, doesn't undergo any drastic changes; she can’t change. But circumstances and situations do change a person.

Her determination is not going to change. Her characterisation is going to be the same strong person that she is. What is going to change is her look. I am loving getting back into her shoes.

The shoot has just begun and I have yet to work with the boys, but whatever I have done so far, its fun-filled.Were there challenges to play this character initially?

When I heard about my character, I fell in love with her. I loved that she has such a strong personality. She is a woman of substance that I knew I would have fun essaying her. She is a woman of determination; she is a woman of challenges; she is ambitious.

To play this role has been amazing. Kulwant Kaur is not a character that I have played before.

I have never played a Punjabi role. I learnt from the two boys. I owe them a lot of gratitude. To begin with, there was a bit of a challenge, but then I settled down fast.

Would you agree that the way women are being portrayed, it has changed from what it was before?

Absolutely. Today, there are more women-oriented subjects in every genre.

The role of the quintessential heroine has a lot more substance unlike what it was before.

What next?

 I am open to roles and waiting for the right kind projects to come my way. But for now, I am busy with Choti Sarrdaarni.