NEELU VAGHELA, who plays Pratibha Devi Kothari in Dangal TV’s to be aired Aye Mere Humsafar, speaks with SHALINI SAKSENA about her role and why she started acting at 11
What is your role in Aye Mere Humsafar?
I play Pratibha Devi Kothari, a businesswoman who has lost her husband. However, she has to step out of the house to earn in order to bring up my children. I pound masalas at home and sell it to people.
The show is set in Rajasthan and the series shows how tough it is for a woman with no husband support to stand independently. But this is what I do since I want the best for my children.
The show has a message. What is it?
Through my character, the show wants to let women know that there is a need to stand independently. While the show is set in Rajasthan, the series is a story on women across India. Those women who get married off at an early age and unfortunately lose their husbands, need to stand on their own and be financially independent like Pratibha Devi does. The other message is women don’t have to think about what the society has to say. Just because she is a woman doesn’t mean that she has to live the rest of her life at home. She can live with dignity and work as well.
How did you get on board the project?
I got my first project Diya Aur Baati Hum from Shashi Sumeet Production. Due to the present pandemic, it was not possible for me to go for auditions but we did have a few calls back and forth and zoom meetings. Saying yes to this show is like coming back home. I was told that both Shashi and Sumeet decided that they were looking for Pratibha Devi, they were in agreement that I would be a perfect role to play as the mother. All I was told that I would play an independent woman, this was enough for me.
The production house had given me my first show, there was no way I would turn them down. Also, the show is to be aired on Dangal TV. I have only heard good things about this channel. On day one of the shoot Shashi ma’am came on the sets and told me that she had got her Pratibha Devi. It was great to get so much love and respect.
Did you think that Bhabho would bring you so much fame — Diya Aur Baati Hum?
Not at all. When I had started to play this character, I had not fully comprehended the character. It took me time to understand the role. However, as the show progressed and got feedback from the channel, Shashi ma’am and Sumeet sir on how to play this character and how to behave. This helped me play this role so well. I owe the fame of Bhabho to the team, they were the one that made her so big. To give an example. I was in Chandigarh for a shoot and a mother with her son had come to met me. She said: ‘Bhabho iske sar par haanth rakhdo, yeh bhi Suraj ban jayega’. They made Bhabho a Goddess.
You took a small break, what kept you busy?
I had been working non-stop for nine years. I was never able to spend time with my children during their schooling all through. But then my son came in Class XII and I told him that I would be there for him. For this I took a break. Now, that the exams are over, I am back at work.
How did your journey begin?
I come from a very mediocre Rajasthani family. I always tried to earn extra so that I could help my family financially. My brother would do the same. I used to take up stage shows. Today, with God’s grace I am where I am. I am thankful for this. Now, I have a house in Boravali, Mumbai.
You were very young, only 11, was it tough to act at such a young age in films?
Actually, I used to play around on the sets. I didn’t realise what was happening. Most times, I would be scolded for prancing around when I should have been busy getting ready since I was the heroine. The film was about child marriage. Balika Vadhu is inspired from this film. The film was a hit and I ended up doing 55 movies as a lead. I have done films with Kiran Kumarji, Govinda, Asif Shiekh, Jagdeepji, Rakesh Roshanji to name a few. Your work and honesty always pay.
How do you choose your projects?
I take up roles that my gut tells me to take up. If I feel right about the character that I am being offered, I never say no to it.
Were there never any Bollywood plans?
Like I said, I come from an ordinary Marwari family. They had to sacrifice a lot to let me work in films. I never realised that I would end up doing TV shows as well. My parents told me that I needed to restrict myself to this only and not go beyond.
What next?
For now, I am concentrating on doing this show. I hope the viewers will like the series. I request people to watch the show that goes on air on August 31, 2020 at 7 pm from Monday to Friday.
