Glad that TV is promoting traditional Indian outfits: Amrita Rao

Actress Amrita Rao, who is making her TV debut with "Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai" in a traditional Indian look, says she is glad that the small screen promotes the use of ethnic wear.

Right from her ensembles to the jewellery she wears on the show -- everything will be 'desi'.

"We are going to showcase Indian attires on the show," Amrita told IANS, stressing that the characters wouldn't be dressed in an over-the-top fashion.

"I am so glad that the Indian television is still promoting the trend (of wearing saris) and still reaching out to traditional India... That’s something to be appreciated,” she added.

Amrita, best known for her roles in films like “Ishq Vishk”, “Main Hoon Na”, “Welcome to Sajjanpur” and “Jolly llB”, says though she was approached by many TV channels for various fiction shows, she wanted to make her debut on the small screen with a “bombastically amazing” show.

“Since the past two years, the top channels have been connecting with me directly with the intention of having me debut on the fiction television, but I was very clear that I will step into television industry only if the content is bombastically amazing. That’s exactly what ‘Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai’ is,” she said.

“The story is the hero of the project. It’s very non-contrived television,” she added.

Amrita said it is hard to grab viewers’ attention in the TV industry as compared to films.

“In cinema, you have a captive audience, but to grab the attention of a housewife, who is in the middle of her household work and to keep them gripped to you, is a huge challenge. It’s difficult to hold them as there is so much of distraction happening. It’s really tough,” she said.

In “Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai”, Amrita will be seen playing the role of a singer named Kalyani.

“This character is multifaceted and multidimensional. There are aspects of her that are just like me. But then there are some aspects of her that are completely different from me and that perhaps I can’t be and can stand away and be in awe off. But I can relate to the love for singing,” she said.

Asked about the types of songs she likes to listen, Amrita said: “Personally I’m a huge retro buff because that era had melody which is washed out from today’s music. That’s why a song becomes really famous and after one year no one wants to hear it again. Those songs, that we used to have earlier, you can hear them again and again.

“Anything soulfully created - may it be music or acting - straightaway touches the heart."