- What is the response you are getting for the show?
I am getting a very positive response for the show. My friends from the film fraternity and outside as well who have been following and watching the show have given a very positive response about the look, story and characters of the show. They love the way the characters are presented. The entire process of the show has gotten a very positive response from everyone. They have told me that the show is getting very interesting. The audiences who are watching the show are sticking to watch the entire episode of the show and they are really excited and intrigued - What do you think of when you hear the title “Rabb se hai Dua”?
Dil se meri yahi rabb se dua hai ki our show connects with the people and makes its place in the heart of the audience - How well do you connect with your character?
Initially, it wasn’t so easy to connect with my character because she was introduced on a pretty dark note. She was aggressive, dramatic and looking for opportunities to create a scene. I am not like that in my real life, I am a very patient and tolerant person and in an argument, I would rather back off and cool down at that moment. Yes, I will confront the person later on when the moods of both parties are normal. As the show progressed, the character progressed as well. So what I have learned is that she doesn’t do anything, just for the heck of doing it. She is doing something out of proportion because she is pushed to do it because it order to make herself heard and scene in the house, she actually resorts to certain things and gimmicks because her existence was shown as irrelevant by the family members and they made her feel that she is not important in the house and is just like a doosri aurat. So even if gulnaaz resorts to aggression, it’s because she needs to defend herself. Many times she didn’t have the support of her husband and in her time of need, he turned his face away. - The Urdu language is very different and rich. So how easy and difficult it was to get the lingo right?
After our first workshop when I went back home, I had to gargle with salt water because my throat was so dry. After a couple of workshops when I spoke the language, my throat became so dry because of practicing that when I spoke, my words were much clearer than ever I could hear myself in all these years. I actually remember Mr. Shah Rukh Khan when he said that you need to speak from your epiglottis. Besides, we had amazing guidance and help from our writers. There was an emphasis on every word and we worked on it a lot. Urdu is indeed very rich and it wasn’t easy - How easy or difficult is it for you to get into the skin of your character?
Initially, it was difficult to get into the skin of the character because there was some confusion in my mind about my relationship with other characters but now everyone has gotten into the skin of the character and whenever we do the scenes the reactions come out very naturally. Now it’s pretty cool and now I play the way I feel is apt - Do you take your character home or are you out of it once the camera switches off?
No, I don’t, it would rather destroy the peace of my house. Till the time I am driving Back home, the character stays with me for some time as I keep thinking about what I have done in the day and how Gulnaz would react to certain things. I try to find out different ways in which this character can be improved. Once I am in the house the character is out of my mind - Is it tough to play a Muslim character on screen because they have a certain Tehzeeb?
Every culture has a tehzeeb and that’s the beauty of our diversified nation. Yes, there are certain mannerisms and gestures which need to be focused on and we have learned that. During the first month of shoot, we used to get conscious but now we all have adapted and I have gotten into the skin of the character and the tehzeeb comes naturally - Daily soap means a lot of hard work and patience. What is your viewpoint?
Yes daily soaps mean a lot of hard work and patience and I am hardworking and patient with whatever work I do - Do you think alternate careers are important as there’s a lot of competition?
I am not sure about it as I myself haven’t given a thought about it but given the insecurities in our lives I would definitely say that we do need an alternate source of income - Who is your inspiration in terms of acting and why?
I can’t point out a single actor because there is a plethora of existing and rising talent worldwide and I get inspired every day. Everyone is so amazing with their talent and performances. - The TV industry has evolved. What are the changes you have noticed?
I have been part of this industry for many years and the work now in the TV Industry has become very organized and convenient. Nowadays because of the different creative departments, you have all of them offering everything for an actor on a platter so everything is taken care of. We have to work on the enhancement of our characters and get into the skin of it. - How’s it working with Prateek Sharma and Studio LSD?
This is my fourth show with them and it’s like a homecoming. It’s been a blessing in disguise. I have seen Prateek most of the time laughing his heart out. He is an amazing person. The way he expresses himself in words is exemplary, he remembers everybody. He doesn’t leave his team and takes them together. He knows my potential more than ever I could recognize it. Every character that he has offered to me has been different from the other. It’s been an amazing journey.
