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`TV characters are no longer credible'

PHOTO: SYEDA FARIDA

SITTING PRETTY Sonali Sachdeva (left) and Jayati Bhatia

They are the popular faces on the tube — Sonali Sachdeva of "Baa Bahu aur Baby" and Jayati Bhatia, who has "Kinara", "Sindoor... Tere Naam Ka" and many other soaps to her credit.

Long shifts, tiring days and a penchant for the theatre are some of the things they have in common.

They take a break from the lights, camera and action for a Take Two.

Syeda Farida records their conversation.

Sonali: When I entered television I was sceptical, having switched professions. I was an orthodontist. You have been around for about 15 years (Jayati corrects her: 10 years). Has the scenario changed?

Jayati: Everything. I started with excellent directors. There was good visualisation. Scripts were fantastic. Characters were believable.

We had serials such as Itihaas and Kanyadaan with talented actors like Kiron Kher who knew what they were doing. There were good directors such as Anurag Basu. All have moved to films now.

Sonali: Today, characters are not credible. You are directed to do the opposite, maybe play a vamp's role. What helps you act then?

Jayati: Commitment and conviction. The scripts of serials are similar today — a rehash of several films.

There is the vamp and a housewife who is pushed to the wall and joins the business to turn it around. I hope the face of television changes.

Sonali: Some start with a bang such as Jassi but end up the same way as the other serials. Everyone wants TRPs.

Jayati: I read in school that the media helps educate. Television has a fantastic reach. Something can be done; say talk about positive issues and focus on programming that is progressive.

Sonali: Television has become a huge money-spinner and therefore, we have soaps. But still, we don't want to see regression in women.

Jayati: We were doing the Viraasat promotion. People came over and complained about the same issue. I feel bad about it. But I need to keep working.

Sonali: It's bizarre to see vamps with overdone make-up and protagonists laden with jewellery.

Jayati: I was a dancer, a theatre person who moved to television. Initially, I would make loud gestures and feel bad when I watched them later. But they were better than the drama that happens now. I have played cracked-in-the-top Titli mami in Sindoor... , a vamp in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, a good girl in Kanyadaan and several other roles.

Sonali: (laughs) I portray a variety of emotions as a young, understanding doctor, daughter-in-law and mother in Baa Bahu aur Baby. Her `understanding' bowls me over.

Jayati: Crime and laughter remain the same in television and film. Theatre is an art where you need to have skills. Film is a craft where you manipulate.

Sonali: Absolutely. You need to know the make up, camera angle, lighting and so on for a film. Theatre allows you to perfect the art of acting. Every show is different.

Jayati: On the stage you loved to play diverse roles, right from playing a three-year-old to a ninety-year-old.

The more diverse a character is, the greater critical acclaim you get. Similarly, in serials too, I don't mind the age leap.

Sonali: Today, all young actors come with aspirations of becoming heroes. The audience tends to typecast them once they play a role.

Even everyone on the sets tends to do this.

Jayati: People don't separate you from the role you play. For instance, I have become jagat mamma.

Jayati Bhatia and Sonali Sachdev throw light on the soap saga

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