Even during my real life marriage my bridal costume was not so heavy

It has been a week that Bani – Ishq da Kalma went on air and we all have seen Rano (Navni Parihar) who plays the tragic bride-in-waiting. The role requires for a lot of drama to be enacted as Rano is shown as someone who is crying and waiting for her husband to take her back with him. Her wait is 20 years long and she visits the railway station with her luggage dressed in her bridal outfit.

While all this looks apt on-screen, the real story behind this effort is that of a lot of hard work is put in by the actor. She plays the character convincingly but ask her about her outfit and she says, "This bridal outfit is very uncomfortable. I think it weighs around 35 kilos and the look is incomplete without the duppata, and the traditional, heavy bridal jewellery which includes the chuuda, kaleri, saggi phool, etc. Wearing all this I have to give shots of carrying the luggage, running behind a train, falling down during which I am shown running high on emotions too."

Has she worn something similar during her shaadi, we ask Navni? "In real life I got married many years back and my costumes was not so heavy.  Even when we were shooting in Punjab during the winter months just gone by it was nice and cold so it was ok and I didn't feel anything… in fact, we all enjoyed a lot but back here when I am shooting in the heat of Mumbai it is just too uncomfortable and itching."

Well, hats off to the actress in Navni who is giving her best performance despite the trouble. Is there any respite? "Well, when I shoot for the scene where I am shown doing Sewa at the Gurudwara then I am in simple and normal clothes and that is a big relief for me."

Seema Khot Mattoo