This show was a fluke: Saumya Tandon

Saumya Tandon, TV’s pretty bhabhiji, has been winning accolades for her act on Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai but the actress reveals that she was hesitant about singing up for the show till the last minute. She says, “I took eight to nine months to say yes to the show. When I heard the title I thought, ‘just how clichéd can you get ’ I didn’t want to play a bhabhi on TV. This show was a fluke — I hadn’t imagined it would do so well. I signed my contract at 2.30 am on the day the show was being launched. In fact, the first episode had already been shot with someone else but was re-shot once I entered.

The actress believes that the concept is what made the show such a hit with the audience. She says, “In most shows people converse like they are from the Ram-Sita era. My character, on the other hand, is bold. She’s not a Miss Goody Two Shoes, who is being pushed around by the saas and husband.”

Her look on the show has also become popular, and she has a huge role to play in it. “All the outfits are from my personal wardrobe. I told the channel that I would not wear saris with heavy borders and rather keep it real. On television, actresses look like they are all wearing clothes manufactured from the same looms.”

Despite starring in the iconic Jab We Met as Kareena Kapoor Khan’s sister, why hasn’t Saumya taken up any more films She states, “Doing a tacky film is not great idea: I won’t do a B-grade, C-grade film. When I’m offered big films, the role is not meaty. Unfortunately, the nepotism here is as much as it is in politics. The work keeps rotating around in families within the industry. Although, new age cinema is breaking the glass ceiling but it’s tough finding the right project.”