The prospect of seeing two industry veterans like Deepti Naval and Zarina Wahab lock horns on screen, understandably, has the nation excited. And as anticipated, the show Meri Aawaz Hi Pehchan Hai has opened to a good response.
In an informal chat with this publication actress Deepti Naval talks about the heart-warming audience reaction, sharing screen space with Zarina Wahab and more. Excerpts:
It is a treat to watch two exceptionally talented contemporaries in the same frame. How was the experience? Was there pressure to out do her?
I am excited to share screen space with Zarina. We are from the same generation and we have worked with the same people so our references are very similar. I used to watch her films too. On the sets, we share a comfort level. I look forward to spending more time with her on the shoot. As far as out doing each other is concerned, well, I have worked with the Naseeruddin Shahs and Om Puris of this country. In your head you are always thinking that you should not be any less, you should be at par. Of course, having that feeling is very healthy, it’s not competition. Whether it’s Shabana and me or Om and me or Naseer and me or Zarina and me for that matter — the one against another approach doesn’t work for me. As actors we are not pitted against each other. It’s our scene. So it has to be healthy teamwork.
The audience response to the first episode is encouraging. Are you glad you are doing the show?
Honestly, I hate the saas-bahus shows with all my heart. I would never want to belong to any of those. I hate the fact that women are sleeping in their kajeevarams with their full jadaus and they wake up with all that. How can they do that? All this is so regressive! I would love to do television if I were playing a contemporary Indian woman. I am glad I am doing this show. Our content is close to life and that’s a relief for the audience too. The response to our first episode suggests that.
Ashaji and Lataji have sung for you in so many films and now you are playing a singer. Your thoughts on this role reversal?
The minute you put two siblings together, and if they both are singers, everyone jumps to conclusion that it is the Mageshkar sisters. I was given a narration and I don’t think it is their story. I would have loved to play Lata Mangeshkar but this a different story.
Amrita Rao is playing your younger version in the show and she is slightly nervous that you’d be watching her performance closely. Your thoughts?
I am meeting her for the first time and I already share a great comfort level with her. She does not seem to me like one of those flighty youngsters who are trying to project something that they are not. She is a great person and a reasonably good actress.
