Saumya Tandon who has been hosting Dance India Dance on Zee TV for four years is back in a fiction comedy show called Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain on &TV. The glam girl of small screen tells Deebashree Mohanty that in herone-and-a-half year break she has been busy with satisfying her creative urges
What has kept you busy for this longIJ
I was getting a little frustrated from doing the same stuff over and over again. I wanted to take a break from all this. That is when I decided to go to london where I took up a workshop in the london Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. During my workshop, I also had the honour to make a students film. It was a creatively satisfying journey for me and I feel suitably rejuvenated.
Now your back in a fiction show. How did that happenIJ
My association with Zee TV goes a long way and when they offered me this role for &TV, I was very emotional and grateful. But at first I was not very happy about being a part of a fiction show on a GEC because they are very time consuming. However, after going through the script of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain for the third time, I felt an urge to give it a shot. I think we lack a good, fresh and decent comedy show on a GEC and Bhabhiji... promises to be just that. It is still early days but I feel the show is going to set a trend for fictional comedies.
What is the show all aboutIJ
It’s based on the ‘grass is greener on the other side’ philosophy. It is a simple story of two neighbours who are not very happy with their respective spouses. I play a model and the cynosure of all eyes. This is all that I am allowed to reveal at this point. But one thing I can assure you that it is fresh, clean and sans obscene dialogues and actions.
nBetween hosting, acting and pursuing creative urges, what is it that you preferIJ
I would prefer a combination of all three. Monetary concerns are a reality and we have to face it. I am not born with a silver spoon nor do I belong to a well established khandaani Bollywood family where international workshops can be easily managed. I have to look after my financial needs too so turning down plumb offers is not something that I can do.
What is your first loveIJ
I am a girl of opinion so I prefer hosting to acting any day. While I am a host, I am my own person and I like it that way. Because when you take up acting projects, you have to lose yourself and embrace the character completely.
Have you started shooting for Bhabhiji...IJ
We have just shot for a couple of episodes and it is turning out to be a fun-filled show. The set is in Naigaon so commuting is a challenge but the concept of the show and the hilarious script acts as a stress buster.
Is there a comedienne that you look up toIJ
I loved shows like Shriman Shrimati, Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai and Dekh Bhai Dekh. I have learnt a lot from each one of these shows. I am not going to emulate any of these actors because it is not humanely possible to do so. I am going to be the Saumya that the audience loved in Jab We Met. I am hoping it will work.
What about other projectsIJ
If there were 45 days in a month, I would have seriously considered another show. But since there are only 30, and I am not getting a moment to breathe, I think I will stick to Bhabhiji... for the time being.