MUMBAI: Kishwer Merchant had an unpleasant experience of casting couch, which made her walk away from a film. Here are excerpts from her recent interview.

First things first. Congratulations, you are going to be a mom soon. How has your pregnancy been till now?
I am feeling lovely and happy but I am nervous at the same time. It's a mixed bag of emotions. We were surprised when I conceived because we hadn't planned the baby. Actually, I was feeling a bit low on energy since a few days. I went up to Suyyash (Rai, husband) and told him that I think there is some 'gadbad' and we should probably do the pregnancy test. The first reaction after I tested positive on both our faces was 'What!'. But overnight, we just got prepared as if we had been trying to be parents. A few days later, I developed thyroid and mood swings, followed by my mother getting hospitalised as she'd contracted Covid. Suyyash is a big support and he's made it easy. But then, he too got COVID. My Dad also got COVID. This in turn led to me having to take the most stringent precautions. Anyway, now we are fine. But yes, too much was happening.

When are you likely to resume work after the baby?

About a year. I have good help at home. So if the role is really exciting, then maybe earlier. Let's see how it goes.

Six years of courtship before marriage. How have the 10 years of togetherness with Suyyash been?

We have had our ups and downs but we are going very fine with each other. We love each other a lot but at the same time, we give each other the required space. We don't get too clingy.

When it comes to films, I see only Bheja Fry 2 in your filmography...

I did 'Hum Tum aur Shabana' too.

I don't think anybody who hasn't seen that film knows that you did 'Hum Tum aur Shabana'...

Yes. Well, I stuck more to TV because I think it gives you more recognition. Small roles in films serve no purpose.

Did you try hard to become a Bollywood heroine in your early days at least?

Not really. I did go for meetings but somehow I knew that I didn't have a Bollywood face and wasn't good at dancing. Plus, I wasn't comfortable wearing a bikini. After marriage, thoda freedom mila hai toh faida uthaya jaata hai. But I think TV was clean work.

Did you face the problem of casting couch?

Yes, I did. It happened with me when I had gone for a meeting but just once. My mother was accompanying me. I was told that I'll have to sleep with the hero. I politely turned down the offer and we left.

I don't think you are going to name the hero and the producer, but were they very big names?

Yes, very big names.

Many TV actresses have told us that filmmakers are not open to casting them.

Yeh hota tha (This would happen), they felt that we are in the face of viewers every day. But things are changing with the inroads that streaming platforms have made. That way if you see, 'Crime Patrol' was not expecting a good audition from me but I surprised them. Even they had a fixed notion that I was too glamorous and negative in my portrayals when I tested for a cop's role in their show.

Credits: TOI