‘I am not ready to play an elderly person’

Divyanka Tripathi of Yeh Hai Mohabbatein talks about the show, the upcoming time leap, her friends in the industry, matters of the heart and more

Yeh Hai Mohabbatein star Divyanka Tripathi says that while signing up for the show, she was confident of its success because it was Ekta Kapoor’s show. Divyanka, who plays Dr Ishita in the show, adds, “However, we were a little apprehensive about the time slot of the show, but thankfully it has been running well... Not many know that we waited for more than a year for this show to go on air.

We had completed a few episodes in January 2013 but it started airing only in December, 2013. But the long wait has been rewarded as Yeh Hai Mohabbatein has been successfully running for more than a year now. Also my character sketch is mind blowing and I have enjoyed performing my character.” “Before this I had done Mr and Mrs Sharma Allahabadwalle, Banoo Main Teri Dulhann and Chintu Chinki Aur Ek Badi Si Love Story. I had also participated in Comedy Circus,” she adds.

Pushed for time

“I barely get any time for myself. But these days I steal some time despite working for 12 hours. I am a workaholic and I sometimes wish that there were 48 hours in a day. But I know how to manipulate my time beneficially.” “I also try taking out time for doing normal things in life – though right now I am going through physiotherapy. I had multiple fractures while performing for an award function recently. However, I resumed work after six-seven days’ rest.”

Taking the leap

Divyanka, however, is not happy that the show is about to take a time leap soon. She says, “Playing mother to grown-up kids does not allure me much. I will not feel comfortable. Also, my fans will not like me with grey hair. The story is yet to be written but at the moment I am not ready to play an elderly person... We have not discussed about the forthcoming episodes. But as an actor any character will enchant me if I feel comfortable playing that particular character. I do not know what’s in store for this character so I am unable to tell you further about my look or role.

Money matters

While stars of hit TV shows abroad sometime make millions of dollars, it is not the case for the India TV industry. Divyanka says, “There is a vast difference in the pay package of every actor. Actors are also exploited at various levels, but when we are established, we get paid fairly well. But at times if an actor asks for a hike, he/she may even get boycotted.

“Also, abroad, actors get royalties for repeat telecasts, but there’s nothing like that here. I feel that actors need to be united to solve these issues. However, I am content with what I am getting at the moment. “But our association, Cinta, is also fighting for our rights, especially for conveyance facilities. Established TV actors can demand these things but the struggling lot has no say”.

Soap rivalry

Asked whether actresses from rival shows can become friends in the industry, Divyanka replies in the positive: “Yes, actresses of rival hit shows can easily become friends as they have very different characters to perform. The story lines do not clash, therefore there is no clash of TRPs either. Also our popularity varies from character to character. There’s no rivalry in small screen “I have different sets of buddies from my earlier shows. I am pally with director Pawan Kumar and I also party with Anita Hassanandani, my co-star Karan and his wife and many more friends from my other serials. “But when I join the Bhopali bandwagon I am the real Divyanka. I hail from the small town of Bhopal and these friends always pull my leg while we are out and someone asks me for an autograph.”

Matters of the heart

Divyanka, who has recently broken up with long-time boyfriend and fellow actor Sharad Malhotra, adds, “It was not very easy for me. I was like a dead woman walking aimlessly. Being in a relationship for almost nine years, I was committed. I would never go out partying; for me my work was worship and also this relationship. But finally I realised it was better to allow the person to be out of my life as I understood that he did not care for me. I started concentrating on my work. “I also realised that I did not care for myself but was always doing more and more for that person. Now that I have understood the importance of loving myself, I am happy. “Also, thankfully my fracture brought my mom closer to me. She was here looking after me. The support of my parents and  my friends helped me come out of it. I am happy now that I am single.”