After being away from TV after FIR, KAVITA KAUSHIK is all set to return with new show Dr Bhanumati on Duty. PRAKRITI ROY catches up with the spunky actress
Kavita Kaushik began her career in a negative role under the Balaji banner. Back then, it was quite difficult for viewers (and her) to imagine Kaushik as a lead in an action comedy. However, FIR on Sab TV changed the perception and made a star out of her.
After a small hiatus from work, Kavita is now set to return to the small screen with Dr Bhanumati On Duty. As the name suggests, the show will see her as a doctor with a twist.
Dr Bhanumati is not just any regular run-of-the-mill doctor. She is an Army physician who believes in action and alternative therapy. Moreover, she is a Rajasthan loyal. Along with an army of sidekicks, she will be solving difficult yet funny medical cases and even perform as an Army officer when required.
Asked how difficult it is to find comedy in a morose hospital, Kavita says: “There is comedy in everything, including tragedy. Munnabhai MBBS was in a hospital setting yet hilarious. Even FIR, for that matter, was in a police station setting but we managed to make people laugh for nine years.”
AsFIR’s Chandramukhi Chautala Kaushik became iconic as comic actor. living up to that character will be a difficult job for her but she is prepared. “Bhanumati is similar to Chandramukhi in many ways. But Bhanu is not one of the boys as Chandramukhi was. She is more feminine. And because of her background, she has this royal attitude. She enjoys girly things like jewellery,” Kaushik tells you. She adds that a fearless Bhanu, who is trained in field combat too, has great lines like: “Goli deti hoon, chala bhi leti hoon.”
When FIR went off air last year, Kaushik wanted to take a break from doing comedy and instead opt to some “Meena Kumari kind of role”. However, she says, “I’ve realised that the audience expects me to do action, comedy, drama and romance. They would get irritated if they saw me in a saas-bahu serial. I can’t say that this show will be as successful asFIR because that is up to the audience to make it so and not for an artiste to plan. My only goal is to make a wholesome entertainer.”
Kavita has carved a niche for herself in the Hindi TV industry. There are not many actresses who can convincingly pull off what she does on TV. And, she says that she enjoys these roles.
For now, Kaushik has no Bollywood plans. “Why would I leave TV where I get to play roles that are larger than lifeIJ I’m not one to leave my territory and abandon what has given me so much in my life. A film role would have to be as good as Chandramukhi for me to even consider it.”
Talking about her love interest in Dr Bhanumati, Kavita says that it has not been decided but will surely happen. “That would be the second thing. First, we have to establish the other characters. When the love interest comes, it will reveal a different side of Bhanumati,” the actress says.
With the Sab TV show Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle not doing too well, there were talks of Kaushik replacing the lead but she tells you that replacing anybody on any platform is not her style. “A show doesn’t work or not work because of one person. It is a team effort, as was the case with FIR. I will never replace any actor on a show as I prefer to come on a new show in a new character.”