AARTI RANA INTERVIEW
By Jyothi Venkatesh
“An actor should be comfortable doing any character or scene convincingly”
The smart and petite lass Aarti Rana is indeed a sheer delight to watch on the TV screen. The actress who left the audience spellbound with her dramatic performance in the SAB Sony Comedy show Pritam Pyaare aur Woh, the thriller based show Haunted Nights and Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat on COLORS in a sensuous and traditional avatar and the film Rajjo says that her ambition is to end up being a Priyanka Chopra though she would not like comparing herself with the actresses.
How did you start your career as an actress?
I started my career as an actress literally with scratch without knowing A B C D of the film industry. I embarked on the journey after learning acting at Actor Prepares. I also acted in plays with Karan Kala Manch and Spandan theatre group at Malad and was part of plays like One Coin Please which was about how the film industry works. I polished my skills as an actress by being a part of plays like Birju Ka Chautha Grahak.
What is your role in the serial Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat?
In the serial Chakravartrin Ashoka Great, I am playing the role of Bema, who is a great support system to him, which is very strong like a sister. I have a very good track in the serial, exactly like Divya Dutta had in the film Veer Zaara. Whenever I was part of the serial, it fetched up to 2.4 ratings as far as TRPs were concerned. It was a two months track for which I was required to shoot for almost two months at a stretch in Karjat at N D Studios.
Was Chakravartin Ashoka Great a big turning point in your career as an actress?
For the first time in my career, my fans came to me and sought for selfies with me and I felt that I was really being recognized for my work.
Which was your first serial as an actress?
I played the role of Jigna which had a comic flavor in a serial called Pritam Pyaare Aur Woh with Tiku Talsania way back in 2013.
Which was your first episodic show on TV?
My first ever episodic show was Adalat on air on Sony TV. I was part of three episodes of Adalat. I was also a part of CID.
Did young boys come rushing to you to propose to you?
Many young boys started proposing to me through social media and some even asked me for a date with them but I did not want to waste my time because I did not want to lose my focus which has always been on acting.
You made your film debut with Rajjo !
Yes. I made my debut in films as an actress with the film Rajjo in which Kangana Ranaut was the leading lady who played the title role.
How was it working with an actress like Kangana Ranaut?
It was indeed a great experience working with Kangana who is an experienced actor. I felt that it was very easy for me to market myself after working with Kangana, because she made me comfortable though I should also confess at the same time that she was not over friendly.
What are you busy with currently?
Currently I am actually working on myself and go to the gym every day as I want to put on a little weight, though I am quite happy with my body. It is a glamorous industry and I will be very comfortable, if at the end of the day, I get a good opportunity to act in a film which is made by a good banner.
How comfortable will you be when it comes to exposing or appearing in a two piece bikini in a film?
If it is a Mahesh Bhatt venture and a film with say Emraan Hashmi and the script as well as the story line demands that I shed my clothes, I am ready to appear in a two piece bikini or indulge in lip locks. I know for a fact that I can easily carry myself on the screen, like VIdya Balan was very comfortable in The Dirty Picture even though she was quite fat, because it was a film on the glamour industry.
Is acting something that comes to you naturally or do you feel the need to prepare and work hard on it?
I think a bit of both! I research my roles and try to understand the script and discuss any issue I have with my director, but don’t like to rehearse my performance as that’s something I simply can’t do. An actor should be comfortable doing any character or scene convincingly. But I’m definitely cautious while Intimate scenes as I feel that they have to be shot aesthetically.
Are you doing varied roles and different genres to widen your audiences?
I don’t do variety of episodic shows for people but for myself. I don’t do TV for other people and it’s the other way around. I take up only roles which I enjoy doing. And I am glad that I took on the challenge for myself because today people appreciate the fact that I am doing something different. Having said that, the intention was not just to do something different but also I wanted to break the myth and as an actor be able to do variety of roles.
How has your journey so far from Rajjo and Pritam Pyare Aur Woh to Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat been?
So far the journey has been tough; I have not made it the way I would like to. But I’m sure I will get my due. The entertainment industry like any other industry makes you work and gives you your opportunities when you are ready for them. I believe something good will come my way soon.
Who are the directors’ in your wish list as of now?
Among the filmmakers want to work with are Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Prakash Jha, besides Aditya Chopra.
What next?
I have recently shot a very big national campaign for PM Narendra Modi’s great vision Pradhanmantri Surakshit Matritv Abhiyan , It will be telecast in all leading satellite channel, national news papers as well on Internet all over. A show on Color channel which is being produced by Shashi Sumeet called Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane is in the offing. I am also in talks with Rajshri for a serial and one for Balaji called Pardesh. I am in talks with Feroz Nadiadwala.
