Aparna is again Smriti's mom-in -law
Monday, April 16, 2007
Apara Mehta talks about her role in 'Virrudh' and the experience of playing mom-in-law to Smriti Irani once again.
You have joined 'Virrudh' as Sushant Singh's mother and once again as the mother in law of Smriti Iraani?
Smriti and I make a great pair. Our chemistry has always worked and that is the reason as to why I think once again I have been asked to work with her.
In
between
there
were
rumours
that
there
was
a
fall
out
between
you
and
Smriti?
See,
there
was
nothing
as
such
between
me
and
Smriti.
We
have
always
had
a
good
relationship
and
we
have
worked
together
for
so
many
years.
We
have
never
come
in
each
other's
way,
so
why
should
we
have
any
problem
with
each
other.
Did
you
take
up
Virrudh
because
of
your
rapport
with
Smriti?
Actually
I
was
cast
a
long
time
back
but
was
asked
to
keep
mum.
Smriti
knows
what
I'm
capable
of.
I
have
done
so
many
serials
in
the
past.
It
has
been
non-stop
television
for
around
ten
years
now.
I
have
also
been
doing
theatre
for
a
very
long
time
now.
So
Smriti
kept
in
mind
the
image
that
I
have
and
offered
me
such
a
role.
In
the
beginning
I
was
sceptical
about
taking
up
the
role
since
it
is
totally
deglamourised,
where
I
do
not
wear
any
jewellery
or
make-up.
But
I
trusted
Smriti
and
since
the
role
was
challenging
and
the
script
was
good,
I
took
it
up.
How
is
Smriti
as
a
producer
and
an
actress?
Smriti
is
really
doing
very
well
as
a
producer.
She
is
managing
things
very
well.
She
always
has
her
script
ready
before
hand,
so
that
the
actors
do
not
have
to
go
through
any
kind
of
trouble.
Everything
is
well
prepared
beforehand.
There
is
no
problem
what
so
ever.
As
an
actress,
Smriti
is
brilliant.
Now
that
you
have
found
out
that
Vasudha
is
Dhirendra's
daughter,
what
is
going
to
happen
next?
Will
your
character
change?
Yes,
now
that
I
have
found
out
that
Vasudha
is
Dhirendra's
daughter,
there
will
be
a
twist.
I
will
want
Vasudha
to
marry
my
son
so
that
I
can
trouble
Dhirendra.
In
an
upcoming
episode,
you
will
watch
me
go
to
Dhirendra's
house
and
literally
tear
him
to
pieces
in
my
own
sweet
calm
tone.
It
will
be
worth
watching.
Vikram
(on
screen
Dhirendra)
had
literally
told
me
that
I
have
a
strong
voice.
How
has
been
the
experience
so
far
on
Virrudh?
The
experience
has
been
good
so
far.
But
to
tell
you
the
truth,
I
had
difficulty
portraying
the
role
since
it
was
so
different.
Achint
(Kaur)
and
I
are
together
in
Karam
Apna
Apna
too.
So,
she
always
told
me
that
I'm
having
a
problem
grasping
the
character
and
I
used
to
wonder
why.
After
joining
the
serial
I
came
to
know
that
the
requirements
are
very
high
from
the
actors
and
since
you
are
working
with
some
brilliant
actors,
you
always
have
to
be
on
your
toes.
Your
character
as
Kukki
Kakisa
in
Saat
Phere
was
scheduled
for
a
comeback?
So
does
Virrudh
rule
out
such
a
possibility?
Yes
there
were
talks
and
I
really
do
not
know
what
is
going
to
happen.
I
really
liked
my
character
in
Saat
Phere.
According
to
me
it
was
the
best
written
negative
character.
Though
it
was
a
three-month
cameo,
it
got
extended
to
four
months.
I
would
like
to
be
back.
How
do
you
manage
your
time
considering
that
fact
that
you
are
into
three
dailies?
Presently
I'm
working
in
three
serials.
First
is
Solhaah
Shringar
where
luckily
I
do
not
have
too
much
of
a
screen
time.
So
according
to
my
time
availability,
I'm
put
on
and
off.
Then
there
is
Karam
Apna
Apna
and
Virrudh.
I
have
also
been
doing
a
lot
of
theatre
and
have
been
very
busy.
But
I'm
managing
my
schedules
well.
You
have
worked
with
Ekta
Kapoor
and
also
outside.
So
what
is
the
difference?
Once
an
actor
works
for
Balaji,
he
or
she
has
trouble
working
elsewhere.
At
Balaji
you
get
pampered.
Though
the
next
day's
script
is
decided
just
the
previous
day
and
sometimes
dates
do
get
haywire
but
everything
else
balances
it.
Out
side,
everything
is
organized
but
one
does
not
get
the
kind
of
treatment
you
get
at
Balaji.
So
there
is
little
trouble
adjusting
initially.
Have
you
thought
of
becoming
a
producer?
(Laughs)
why
should
I
take
the
trouble
of
running
behind
actors?
I'm
better
off
as
an
actor.
Your
take
on
the
Indian
television
industry?
Yes
this
is
a
very
appropriate
question
that
you
have
asked.
I
have
been
working
in
television
since
the
past
10
years.
I
have
seen
a
change
in
the
industry.
First
it
was
Kyunki...
which
changed
the
definition
of
television
making
it
bigger.
Today
any
'A'
grade
actor
from
television
can
be
compared
to
a
film
star.
The
level
has
raised
so
much.
Family
and
social
serials
work.
See
Kyunki...
for
example.
Since
it
deals
with
the
concept
of
a
family
and
society,
it
is
doing
well.
So
anything
that
people
can
relate
to
will
work.
Same
goes
for
Virrudh.
If
it
works,
it
will
bring
in
another
change
in
television
with
the
way
a
contemporary
concept
is
dealt
with.
It
has
substance
in
the
script
and
is
different
from
other
serials.
Is
your
daughter
going
to
take
up
acting?
Yes,
my
daughter
has
written
a
drama
and
is
also
acting
in
it.
I'm
happy
the
way
she
has
dealt
with
such
a
serious
topic
at
the
age
of
twenty-one.
I
first
want
her
to
do
a
lot
of
theatre,
so
that
she
becomes
a
good
actor
and
then
she
can
take
up
television.
But
I
think
that
she
will
be
better
as
a
script
writer
which
is
more
her
cup
of
tea.
The
drama
is
a
super
hit
and
we
have
done
around
thirty-six
shows
in
thirty
days.
See
any
script
writer
or
a
director
should
also
be
a
good
actor,
so
that
he
can
understand
thing
better;
even
from
the
point
of
view
of
the
actors.
So
do
you
feel
that
theatres
make
actors
better?
Yes
they
do,the
detailing
that
is
there
in
theatre
helps
an
actor
greatly.
Moreover,
there
is
more
freedom
in
theatre
as
an
actor,
so
one
can
improvise.
This
greatly
helps
when
you
work
for
television.
Look
at
the
actors
of
Ba
Bahoo
aur
Baby,
most
of
them
are
either
from
Marathi
or
Gujarati
theatres.
See
their
performance.
The
detailing
in
theatres
is
not
there
in
television.