After 14 years of acting in Bollywood, Amrita Rao makes her foray into TV with Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai. She talks to SANGEETA YADAV about being compared to her sister Preetika Rao and why she is taking up only a few acting projects
Your sister Preetika Rao shot to fame after making her debut on TV with Beintehaa. Did you take any tips from her for your TV debutIJ
Yes I did! The working style on TV is very difficult as compared to Bollywood. The challenge on TV is not only to emote and act or give your 100 per cent but to get used to the grueling work schedule. It’s close to live action. Bollywood is more comfortable. We take our time. There are no deadlines. Sometimes there are delays but that’s not so much of an issue.
Do you fear being compared with your sister on the small screenIJ
I have never been scared of being compared with my sister. Preetika is doing something very different on TV. It will be nice for the audience to see both of us, perhaps around the same time doing different shows on TV.
You went through a rigourous training for this show. Your view of today’s music sceneIJ
Today’s songs don’t have the charm of old numbers. Songs like Hawa ke jhonke aaj mausamo se rooth gaye from lootera movie are rarely composed. We’ve left that melody somewhere. But I want it to come back. That’s why music composers known for composing melodious songs like Anu Malik, Shaan and others have reduced their work.
What do you find challenging on TVIJ
Unlike films, where you have a captive audience, TV lets you reach out to the masses. Amid a lot of distraction, you have to grab the attention of viewers so that they sit at that particular time, watch the entire show and become loyal viewers. That can happen only if you connect with the audience. That’s the real challenge.
Do you think with advanced technology the struggle of an actor has become lesserIJ
Not at all! There is more struggle today in terms of acting than when I made my debut in 2002. It is becoming very difficult to make a career as an actor. It’s scary to be in an acting profession right now. Everything is commercial-driven and the present trend is flavour of the month and flavour of the season. Everybody wants a new face and they will get work only if the film is a box office success. Otherwise, the newcomer will not be able to make a mark. Film hit hui toh kaam milega, warna pehle break ke baad shayad kabhi kaam nahi milega. It’s very scary for a debutant. If the newcomer fails to impress movie reviewers, it is devastating.
You are not on social media...
Social media is a self-imposed pressure and distraction which is killing everybody. I don’t want to get into it.
What is the reason for taking up very few movie projectsIJ
Nothing interesting came my way. There is no financial pressure on me to take up something and be unhappy. I think 100 times before I say yes to a project and I address all my apprehensions before I jump into any project being offered to me. I’m a committed actor and once I give a nod to a project, I surrender to the director.
Did you ever get swayed by praises and glamourIJ
I didn’t allow myself to get swayed because, in my career, I have not done two things very consciously. First, promoting political events however good the money is. Second, dance performances. Apart from the award shows, I don’t perform at any event. These days any opportunity is taken up to mint money. I’m an actress and I want to perform in front of the camera and not get associated with any brand, appear for store openings or even walk the ramp.