What was the reason to take up the showTota Weds Maina?
To be very honest, I was bored of playing Chadramukhi. I was tired in terms of output. I know there is a lot in me as a character that I can project and give my audience. I love my audience and I know what they want. I like to surprise them. When they say, that they can't imagine Chandramukhi without me, then this statement makes me want to surprise them.
Do you think that the audience will accept you as Maina after seeing you as Chandramukhi for long 7 yrs.?
Time will tell! I believe that the audiences are also greedy and intelligent like us actors. They want us to do new things and always want more. So, why shouldn't we give them a new character!
Are you enjoying your new look?
I am loving it. I have an army of people who are running after me asking me to wear different types of bangles, trying out different hair styles and outfits. I used to get ready within 10 minutes. While doing FIR. I hardly applied any make – up. Now, I have to keep combing my hair and using different beauty products
Tell us about your character in the show?.
A mastikhor girl is hidden behind Chandramukhi whose name is Kavita Kaushik. Maina is identical to Kavita Kaushik who is very naughty, she wants to try doing everything. Sometime ago I went to Goa with some of my friends. We took a motor boat to reach to a private island. We all had great fun there. When it became to grow dark, everyone started telling us to leave from that locale but we were busy enjoying. When we were on the way in the sea while returning, a storm rose in between. I was enjoying and shouting while we all were in trouble. I don't like going to parties. I like having fun like this way. This is the way Maina is! She is adventurous, crazy and wants to do everything in life. She is not scared of anything.
Tota is totally opposite to Maina. What will happen if someone like Tota enters your life?
I need somebody to absorb me. When I shoot with Gaurav, I stay very happy and he handles me very well. In real life, if I find someone like this, then it will be very good for me.
You enjoy being a part of comic shows. Will you be interested in doing emotional saas-bahusagas in future?
How do you keep yourself fit?
Smiling and laughing. I also take care of what I am taking in as food. I work a lot.
TV actress Kavita Kaushik, best known as the strict yet kind-hearted police officer Chandramukhi Chautala of "F.I.R.", is geared up to show her romantic side in new show "Tota Weds Maina". She says she likes to surprise audiences with every role.
"I have been doing 'F.I.R.' the past seven years. As an actor, you want to do different roles. You have some responsibility towards your audience. I always get a kick out of surprising my audience with my performance and playing a different role," Kavita told IANS.
"This role Maina is a role like that. I hope it is not early for me to say that it is as amazing and brilliant for an actor to play as Chandramukhi," she added.
Pointing out the difference between the two shows, she said: "'F.I.R.' was an out and out comedy which was sometimes over the top but this is more real. This is different. The audience will feel very differently. You will see me with real emotions."
Kavita feels the stories, content and treatment on the Indian small screen have hardly undergone any upgradation over the years.
"Many shows hold no social obligation to society and don't care about the message they are giving out to the youngsters and youth. On lots of shows, there is no scope of characterisation and performance. Earlier, we used to have these really good shows. Nowadays, you have reality shows which are all scripted drama and nonsense... where is the kind of television upgradation which we are looking at?" she said.
With two shows in her kitty for now, Kavita is not looking for anything else.
"I have just signed 'Tota Weds Maina' and 'F.I.R.' is also there. So on TV, I don't have time for anything else. But I am open for advertisements," she said.
The Indian small screen is ready with its dose of entertainment for the new year. Watch out for new concepts, storylines and fresh seasons of popular shows in 2013.
The staple offering of reality shows will continue with new seasons of "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC) and "Indian Idol". Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will return as the host of the seventh season of KBC.
The third season of cooking reality show "MasterChef India" will go on air soon and celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor will be joining the judges panel this time.
Popular youth-centric reality shows "Roadies", "Emotional Atyachaar" and "Big Switch" too will return with new seasons and promise some freshness and lots of spice.
In the fiction space, "Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha", which wrapped up earlier this year, will come up with its second season.
Besides the new seasons, there is an interesting line-up of shows with fresh concepts.
Audiences will get to see "Welcome: Baazi Mehmaan-Nawaazi Ki", the Indian version of British show "Come Dine With Me".
To be anchored by TV actor Ram Kapoor, the celebrity show will be about judging the cooking and guest-hosting capabilities of participants.
Actor Tusshar Kapoor, who had earlier judged TV show "Comedy Circus Ka Jadoo", will once again be seen as the judge for a comic series titled "Nautanki". The show will bring the Broadway style of comedy-play on the Indian small screen.
As far as fiction is concerned, Sony has two shows - "Amita Ka Amit" and "Sajan" - while Sab TV is ready with "Tota Weds Maina" and "Hum Aapke Hain In-Laws".
"Tota Weds Maina" features "F.I.R." actress Kavita Kaushik playing the lead role of Maina and actor Gaurav Gera, best remembered as Nandu of "Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin", will play Tota.
"Hum Aapke Hain In-Laws" is the story of a sweet couple, played by Karan Grover and Pooja Pihal, caught in the whirlwind of confusion with their lovable in-laws.
Zee TV's new drama "Housewife Hai...Sab Jaanti Hai", starring Suhasi Goradia Dhami and Anirudh Dave, will explore the busy lives of housewives.
Another new show, "Sanskaar - Dharohar Apnon Ki", will go on air on Colors. The story of a close-knit family, it features actor Jay Soni.
So, one gauges avid viewers of these Hindi general entertainment channels have a lot on offer in the new year. Take your pick!