Bhavna Balsaver, best known for her roles in shows like Dekh Bhai Dekh & Gutur Gu is playing a negative character in Waaris. She speaks with ANCHAl SHARMA about her role and how she never wanted to be an actor to begin with
The reason you opted for acting.
Basically, I am a studious person and an introvert. I was never interested in acting, even though my mother has a background in acting. As a child, if someone had asked me whether I would like to become an actress, my reply to them was a simple ‘no’. But then came Bottoms Up. I was replacement. It was the first time I ever acted and that too on a professional stage. That was the time when the acting bug bit me.
What does acting meant to youIJ
Acting means convincing the audience that you are the character without letting them realise that you are acting. It is not the performance that should come through, it is the character.
What things you keep in mind while selecting the scriptIJ
The character is important for me, it should have something that stands out. The set-up is important as well. I should be comfortable with the way things are organised because if I perceive a lack of interest then I am not interesting in working there. I don’t do anything I don’t enjoy and luckily I have the liberty to do so.
You also do theatre. How does it help an actorIJ
Theatre didn’t seem a possibility until I accompanied mother for the Bottoms Up play. In theatre, there are no second chances. I have to be alert all the time. When I am on stage, it is for the actor to carry it on the show. Experience on stage really helped me. I learnt and got accustomed to spontaneous reactions. A theatre actor is used to producing these kinds of reactions.
What made you take up WaarisIJ
I am not your typical daily soap actor and have always been wary doing one. The reason I took on Waaris is because it is not the usual run-of-the-mill serial. It has an interesting story line and concept. What excited me about the character is that it is very different from anything that I have done so far. It is not just a negative character but a very manipulative one too. Playing a complex and challenging characters gives me a thrill. I am enjoying it.
You are famous for your comedy rolesIJ Is that the reason you are portraying a negative role IJ
As an actor I always want to play different characters and roles. I have been hugely accepted in comedy and enjoy the love of my viewers but the actor inside me yearns for more. The character I essay is interesting because though she is negative she is extremely entertaining. More than the negativity, it is the complexity of the role that excited me.
Tell us something about your character in the showIJ
like I said, it is a complex character. She is unpredictable and manipulative. But she is very entertaining because of the way she speaks and what she says. As an actor, what is challenging is to express an area of emotion. At the same time, display a loving and humorous face while making evil and devious plans.
When an actor portrays a negative character, do viewers create a negative impression of the actorIJ
I have been known as a sweet and happy-go-lucky person onscreen. Though my character is negative, she is likable because of the way she speaks. I don’t think I evoke negativity through my character.
What is the show trying to sayIJ
It showcases the strength of a woman in a very understated manner. In a regressive feudal backdrop, a mother brings up her daughter as a son to be heir apparent.
The girl child proves her mettle and against all odds, maintains the dignity of the family. The serial champions the cause that you don’t need a male to be the worthy scion of a dynasty. I find this to be a very novel concept which has not been explored on TV until now, and am glad that I am a part of the show.