LAVINA TANDON, who plays Jhanjharika in Nikki Aur Jadui Bubble, a fantasy show on Dangal TV, speaks with SHALINI SAKSENA about her role, the challenges faced and fun that she is having shooting with the kids
What is Nikki Aur Jadui Bubble about?
It is a kids’ fantasy show where there is the real world and the magical one which merge together. Sometimes our characters are in the real one sometimes in the magical. It is about a girl, Nikki; it’s her story. Her father is a great magician and passes on his talent and world to his father without him realising this.
What’s your character here?
I play the grey shade here —Jhanjharika. I am also a magician and a powerful one at that amongst the women in the world of magic. She was not always evil but then a competition took place and she lost. She wanted the coveted bubble which has immense power and the bubble went to Nikki’s father played by Himmanshoo Malhotra. From here on, my character becomes negative and I become the evil witch and my job is to trouble everyone.
How did you come on board the project?
I was shooting for another project as an assistant intern. But I keep getting scripts since I have done other shows. I have worked for Dheeraj Kumar earlier as well and my experience was good and saw no reason to say no. I went and gave the audition. After three weeks I got a confirmation call. But I was shooting in Goa for a web series and told the team that once I am done, I will be on board.
It is a kid’s fantasy show, are you having lots of fun?
We had lots of fun. There are no adults in the scenes with me. There are adults but we are never in the same frame. The good is that there is gossip, the atmosphere is stress-free. There is a negativity like there might be in other adult shows — she got this costume, I didn’t; she got this jewellery, I didn’t. There is no such thing here. Kids are natural, they have no pretense. They come, shoot and go back to their studies. We spent a lot of time together and chatted and generally had fun. I learnt a lot from them as well. They are so full of energy.
Were there any challenges since you are working with kids?
There were no challenges working with the kids like I said the kids in the show are extremely intelligent. I psyched myself saying that it is a kids’ show so I need to have patience working with them. But they are quick learners. The challenge came in the form of getting into the look. I have two —one the normal and the other the evil witch. Switching and change in costume was time consuming.
How did you get into acting?
I never had plans to get into acting. Acting chose me. I was 12 when my mother’s friend was coordinating for a show — Tum Bin Jaaoon Kahaan on Zee TV — that had a requirement for a girl with curly hair. It was a show by Aruna Irani Production House. I went for the audition and got selected. The minute I stood in front of the camera they chose me since I fit their character to a T. I shot 70-80 episodes. But then my Class VII finals came and I had to leave the show. But I kept getting work sometimes back-to-back.
Hero Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai was a role you did and grabbed eyeballs. What made the show popular?
It was one of the few superhero shows. Back then, there was just Shaktiman. Hero Bhakti… became popular because the story was interesting and attracted the kids. Also, every week there was a new character that kept the interest. Kids back then watched TV. Today, they are glued to their mobiles, video games and social media.
Is there a role that you hated doing?
No, not really. I never put myself in a position where I ended up hating doing something. Acting is my profession. If I don’t love I can’t do justice to the characters I have done.
What next?
At present, I am not willing to work on anything due to the pandemic. I was even scared to go out to buy groceries let alone step out to shoot. But I am committed to Nikki Aur… so I will shoot for it but no new projects for the time being.
