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Interview with TV actor Sudha Chandran |
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"I vowed to become someone big" | |
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Posted on 17 March 2003 |
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Aclassic
case of inner resolve, she overcame her disability with the help of a
prosthetic 'Jaipur Foot' to become one of India's most highly acclaimed
dancers.
Her public recital in Mumbai on 28 January , 1984, which heralded
her comeback into the dancing arena after two years, was met with
thunderous applause. Her success was followed by invitations for shows
from all over the world, and she performed in several European
countries, Canada and the Middle East. Films happened, and so did
television. Today, she is the talk of the town, courtesy her innovative
character of Ramola Sikand in Balaji Telefilms' late-night thriller Kaahin Kissii Roz.
This dancer-turned-actor believes each country has its own heroes
who have never accepted defeat. "Like them, I have always believed in
asking - 'What next?', rather than, 'Why me?' If Helen Keller could
overcome her handicap, so can I. The seed of achievement lies in the
human mind. When this realization comes, there is no looking back. Once
I decided that my handicap was not going to stop me from dancing, that
was it," begins Sudha Chandran, but quickly adds before the first
question, "Please don't imitate Ramola Sikand too much in letter and
spirit both. 'Thoda chalega' but within the parameters of law. She is a
cold-blooded murderess and you can't break the law."
And for those who thought Kaahin...looked like it was winding up, here comes news that the serial has been given an extension.
Excerpts from an interview with Vickey Lalwani. |
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Was dancing your first love? Yes. I was a lot into dancing
as a co-curricular activity. But academics was never put on the
backburner. Being from a South Indian family, I was very much an
academic-minded girl. I did my B.A. from Mithibai College in Mumbai and
followed it up with M.A. in Economics. That year, I was the only
student from my college and class who got a first division.. (pauses). |
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Go on... Before that, a major tragedy struck my life. My
parents and I had gone for our yearly 'abhishek' to the South. We were
returning and our bus met with an accident. I suffered a fracture in my
right femur. Since it was an accident case, we were thrown into a
government hospital. Call it the doctor's mistake or my misfortune;
they put a plaster on my fracture and the toe started getting black.
Since my parents too had been injured in the accident, there was no one
handy to take a decision and look into my condition closely.
By the time my cousins came from Chennai, gangrene had set in. I was
shifted to Vijaya Hospital in Chennai under the care of a leading
orthopedic surgeon. He did his best for 20 days, but it became a
question of life or limb. I had no other option but to get my right leg
amputated. To change my mind, which obviously was almost shattered, I
was taken for a holiday.
I had finished my junior college at that time. Eight months later, I
came to Mumbai. The Principal of Mithibai College, (late) Mr.
C.T.Bhastana, allowed me to join F.Y.B.A from the middle of the year. |
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Then? Well, that was a tough time. The body had lost the
mobility. It took me two full years to get back to dancing. My dance
guruji and a physiotherapist combined to put me back in action. And of
course, my parents backed me to the hilt. But deep down in their heart,
they used to be very upset.
Believe it or not, my mother avoided going to the market simply
because people would ask embarrassing questions about my future. Seeing
all this, I felt terrible. I vowed to become someone big. |
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"There is no Shashikala or Bindu in Ramola Sikand" | |
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Did you get into television to realize your vow? No. I
hadn't decided which field I would hit. Destiny smiled on me without
any effort. I deserved that, didn't I? Initially, the media helped me
quite a bit. When I got back to dancing, a lot of journalists wrote my
fight-back story in the papers. This caught the attention of filmmaker
Ramoji Rao. He contacted the USIS in Chennai. They sent a fax to my
father who was working for the same company in Mumbai.
We flew down to Hyderabad. Initially, he just wanted to make a film
on my life-story, with some other girl as the heroine. Later, he and
even the director Srinivas thought that I should do the role. |
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And you grabbed the offer? No. In fact, I asked for some
time. They obliged. For three months, I kept quiet. My friends kept
telling me that I was letting a golden opportunity slip away. A few
days later, I gave in. Without Srinivas Rao, there would have been no
Ramola Sikand. |
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Why? That man is a genius. The moment he started directing
me, I turned into wet clay. I learnt acting from him. He was my maker.
The film did not do well in the first week but started picking up
rapidly in the second. Initially, it was made in Telugu. Later it was
dubbed in Malayalam and Tamil. Finally, it was remade in Hindi under
the title Nache Mayuri. |
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How did television happen? Television was never on my agenda, initially. After Nache Mayuri, I got films like Pati Parmeshwar, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Qaid Mein Hai Bulbul
and some others, but was reduced to playing sister and 'bhabhi' roles.
Most of these bombed. Suddenly, there was a lull. I was jobless.
I shifted my attention down South. I did a few Telugu films which
too were no great shakes. Then I met Sunil Mehta, owner of Cinevista
Communications. I explained my predicament to him. He promised to call
me after 15 days. I thought this was just one of those promises which
was meant to be broken. But he cast me in a TV serial Saahil wherein I got noticed once again.
From there, I went on to anchor the Adhikaris' show Shriman Shrimati directed by Rajan Wagdhare. Rajan was impressed by my wacky sense of humour and he repeated me in another serial Kabhi Idhar Kabhi Udhar opposite Shekhar Suman. Then came a stream of serials- Manish Goswami's Chashme Buddoor, Satte Shourie's Kaise Kahoon... Touch wood. |
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"Even the way I outline my lipstick is being lapped up! " |
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How did 'Kaahin Kissii Roz' happen? Balaji Telefilms was
calling me for Kkusum and Kutumb. But I was very skeptical signing on
their dotted line. I had heard a lot about their unprofessional delays
in shooting schedules. The executive producer of Kaahin ..., Meetu, rang me to say, "Ekta is impressed with your acting in Kaise.... and she has a very exciting offer for you in one of her forthcoming serials Kaahin ...."
I heard them out. I was surprised that they wanted me to play a hi-fi manipulative industrialist. In Kaise
...which they'd liked, I had played a down-market Muslim girl. I
thought that Ekta was miscasting me. I told her that I needed some time
to think over. She obliged. Later I told Meetu that I won't be able to
work day and night as Balaji Telefilms do. I had heard about the long
hours at Balaji Telefilms. Meetu squashed all my fears saying that
those were all rumours, the truth is that they work on a 12-hour basis
for three months, bank the serials in the process and then hit. |
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So, life took a new turn? Dramatic turn! Fantastic turn!
Like I was lucky to get Srinivas Rao teaching me to act in films, I was
lucky again to get another genius, Homi Wadia, teaching me to act in TV
serials. Wadia is the pioneer of the look, style and attitude of Ramola
Sikand that people talk about today. Also, Shobha Kapoor's sister Nim
Sood, the creative stylist at Balaji Telefilms, contributed a lot.
Wadia directed the first 15 episodes of the serial. As days rolled by,
we improvised.
The special, queer 'bindis' and ornaments were not an original part
of the look. Today, the same 'bindis' and jewellery have acquired the
names of counters in many hi-fi shopping malls- Ramola Sikand 'bindi'
counter, Ramola Sikand jewellery counter.! Even the way I outline my
lipstick is being lapped up! Sarees are being sold under the brand name
of 'Ramola Sikand'! Latest, husbands want their wives and children want
their moms to look like Ramola!
I am very proud of the fact that for the first time in India, a
negative character is being followed so lovingly. Today, I am the talk
at beauty parlours, kitty parties and even fashion shows. It's an
author-backed role alright. |
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What do you think has made this character tick? One, the
fact that I am not wearing any garish make-up and mouthing dirty
language; there is not an iota of cheapness in this character unlike
that in the characters of vamps in films. Candidly speaking, there is
no Shashikala or Bindu in Ramola Sikand.
Two, the fact that I am a very flat character who expresses mainly
through eyes; she doesn't get excited when she is happy, she doesn't
get sad when her ruse fails, she doesn't get nervous before doing
anything major.
Three, the character has loads of sophistication and poise; I am
very elegantly draped in chiffons and crepes. Four, the fact that this
role is so different from what the people have read about me; my
earlier real life projects me as a character who needs to be
sympathized, and here I am making the others dance to my tunes. Five,
there is a Ramola Sikand inside every human being who wants to be
successful. |
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"Working conditions in telly are good but not as luxurious as in films." | |
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Are you a spontaneous or method actor? Thankfully,
spontaneous. I don't think that a method artiste can go far. You have
to surrender yourself to the director; you ought to deliver his
requirement as an output, then and there. Does he have time for the
so-called methods? You will struggle if you are a method artiste if and
when the director changes. Like, we have had three directors in Kaahin... far.
We started with Homi Wadia, then we had Santaram Varma, now we have
Naresh Khanna. The pace of thinking is different in all three. |
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What is your USP? I can learn my lines in a very short
period of time. I can give a very long shot without a mistake in
reciting my dialogues. This plays a big role in enhancing my
performance. Since I am not going to err on the words, I can
concentrate fully on the expressions and body language. If you fumble,
you are a candidate for retakes. |
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What draws you to the script? Till now, I never had a
choice. I signed whatever came to me. Not so long ago, I was
struggling. But now, yes, I will be choosy. I certainly do not want to
do another Ramola Sikand. Being repetitive on TV can be hazardous; you
look stale. In films, it's just the opposite; you need an image to make
a mark. If you experiment in films, you dig your grave. Strange, but
true. |
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Are you game to playing a goody-goody Tulsi or Parvati? Why
not? Like Ramola Sikand, even those are author-backed roles. Thanks to
Kaahin Kissii Roz, I am a very confident actor today. At the end of
every day, I thank Balaji telefilms for helping me to regain my status
as an actress. I can emote the positive emotions with equal ease and
conviction. As an actress, I want to go through a gamut of emotions. |
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Do you improvise on your scenes? When I rush
back to see my scenes on the monitor, I have never felt dissatisfied
with my performance. But if ever I am, I will never tell the director
that he needs to take another shot. I am looking at the scene from an
actor's point of view. He is looking at it from a director's point of
view. Who is superior? Naturally, the director. He is the captain. I
have no right to direct him. I have no right to trample on his ego. In
fact, I must have blind faith in him. I don't even intervene on my
lines. I am of the firm belief that every professional is here because
he deserves to be. |
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Is working on television easy? It's very difficult.
Haven't we seen many actresses from the celluloid trying their hand on
the tube and walking out in very bad shape? The deadline for submission
of cassettes, every now and then, is very tough to abide by. Else, the
channels don't take it lightly. We have to work 12 hours at least every
day. We rarely take Sundays off. At times, this disturbs our family
life.
Working conditions are good but not as luxurious as in films. Stars
walk into film shootings only when they are required. One scene can
stretch to even three days. There is no Damocles' sword of a deadline
hanging over your head. Besides, they sit in air-conditioned vans and
take long breaks after virtually every shot. TV stars don't have time
to laze and fool around; they have to be alert and quick. Everything is
strictly work-oriented. Unlike film stars, TV artistes cannot be
unprofessional. |
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What's the biggest compliment you received on Ramola Sikand? Ramesh
Sippy once told me, "The anxiety on the faces of the people when they
see Ramola Sikand on television is similar to what they experienced
when looking at Gabbar Singh in Sholay." |
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What else are you up to? I am doing a play Kamaal Karte Ho Aap Bhi written by Imtiaz Patel. All those who have seen this play say I am like the Sweetie of Hum Paanch, a little less of 'pauli' in the head (smiles). Also, my husband Ravi Dang and I are producing a TV serial Waqt Ka Dariya directed by Ramoji Rao.
He
brought me to cinema and I share a special bond with him. Furthermore,
we are planning a daily soap with Rao which should start rolling soon. |
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Has dancing taken a slight backseat? Yes. Acting takes away quite a lot of time. But still I perform whenever I can. |
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Click here for more actor's Interviews | |
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