MUMBAI: Veteran actress Apara Mehta has been working in the world of Television, films and theatre for the longest time. She is one of the rare actors who still gets offered substantial parts in television shows. The actress, who is best remembered for her character of Savita in the iconic show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, recently returned to television in a cameo role in Indiawaali Maa.
Apara has also played remarkable roles in shows like Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, Saat Phere, Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo, Hamari Saas Leela amongst others. Apara took a trip down memory lane and spoke about her popularity post Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and how the daily soap dominated the TRP charts and her bond with her on-screen daughter-in-law, Smriti Irani. 

What made you say yes to the show, Indiawaali Maa?
I have been in the industry for such a long time for donkeys years absolutely. This is my 32nd daily soap and I have done all long running, popular ones, short ones, cameos and everything. I took a break in 2019 and was doing a Gujarati play. When I started getting offers from TV the lockdown happened. I had a great time during the lockdown. I got to relax and take some rest as I was busy working for 25 years. I stayed at home and got to know the corners of my house. I started cooking, cleaning again. When the lockdown got relaxed, I got the offer of Indiawaali Maa and immediately said yes to the role as it was a cameo. When it is a cameo role, you work for a limited period of time. I am working with Sucheta Trivedi after a long time. We did a show together Ek Mahal Ho Sapna Ka from 1995 to 2006. So, it was great to work with her once again. She is a dear friend and I am loving working with her.

How difficult has it been to convince yourself to get back to shoots during pandemic?
During the pandemic more than me, my family did not want me to step out and work. But then somewhere we have to step out and start working. I am also doing a web show for which I am shooting in Delhi and for which I am very scared. And I am such a professional that I know if I fall ill and get quarantined, producers are going to suffer. Forget about my suffering but the other people will face a difficult time. It is a scary situation, but the production houses make sure that rooms, chairs, makeup equipment and everything is sanitised. The makeup people wear PPE kits but with Covid you don’t know how and when you will get infected. It is a very risky situation but one has to work.
You have been part of the television industry for such a long time. What changes do you notice?
There are a lot of changes in the television industry and I have been a part of the change. Technically, cameras, lightings everything has changed. The major change was brought about by Ekta Kapoor and Kyunki Saas Abhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She completely changed everything and gave a glamorous look to TV. So, television became

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like films and it was no less than it. I’ve been a part of that entire journey. I worked when Indian makeup was used and today everything is very different. Technically everything has changed. The reach obviously, we know has increased. Another thing is that TV has more powerful roles and it is woman centric. So, if I get offered a film I will think 10 times before doing it as it won’t offer me what I am getting on TV. Content wise I feel it was better earlier and now it is mostly repetitive. Television became big because of Kyunki... and KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati). One has to admit and accept this fact. Incidentally, my TV show Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka was the first daily which had Sucheta and me. It was the first daily on a satellite channel. I have done a show called Dillagi also. I’ve been around since a very long and been a part of history. So, when I look back and think oh what it was then and what it is now, I definitely see a lot of difference.
The shelf of actors of today's time is less as compared to actors from your time. What according to you is that they lack?
Earlier, only actors from Mumbai would do television but now people from all over India are doing television. Most of them feel that acting is very easy. Whereas it is not. If you have to survive in this line for a long period, you have to be an actor from within. I believe that God does not give Art to everyone. It is given to a chosen few. If I am one of them I thank God everyday for it. I thank my Gujarati theatre from where I got my training. I love being on stage and I feel it is my training ground. And I feel it is my moral duty to do the right things in life. You have to be morally also correct. You can’t be doing anything in your personal life and say it’s fine. If God has gifted you with this art. I have often heard people saying 'arre badnaam hue toh Kya hua naam toh hua'... but I don’t agree with it. There are so many people who look up to you. I always feel when you are an actor and are on stage, you are 10 feet above the audience and they are looking up to you, so you should behave accordingly. God gives art to a chosen few. So, you can't say I will act on camera but will do anything in my personal life. We have made several sacrifices. There has been a time in my life when I’ve seen my family sleeping. When I would leave the home and I used to return, they would be sleeping again. There was a time when my daughter was in class 10th and I had not given dates but the circumstances were such that I had to shoot. I would go and drop her at the examination centre and then the other entire shoot was shifted near her examination centre so that I could go and pick her after exams. So, we have done all that.

Did Kyunki's popularity help you bag more projects?
I remember because of the popularity of Kyunki, Sanjay Leela Bhansali had invited me to offer a role in Devdas and my jaw dropped. He told me I am offering you a very tiny part but I feel you fit the role perfectly. When I was doing the film, I did not have the time to absorb the moment but today when I think about it I recall what a lavish set we would work. It was a grand set but I was working so hard I hardly had to cherish those moments. I was shooting for Mihir’s death scene in those days, I have worked for 17 day and nights. During the day I would shoot for Kyunki and at night for Devdas. It took me three four days to adjust to the timings but post that my eyes would be wide open and used to not even fumble with my dialogues. During that time two drivers who worked for me left the job as they couldn’t work like this. I was eating, sleeping in the car. I have not seen episodes of Kyunki or Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka. It was recently during lockdown I saw all these shows. I didn’t have time to see Mahabharat. Lockdown was like blessing in disguise. The journey has been long and I just hope I get to work more and I get offered all kinds of roles as I am up for it.

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Credits: TOI