‘The challenge is to up your game every single day’

While many child artists continue their acting journey and become big names, there are many who vanish into oblivion. For Jennifer Winget, who started her journey at the age of 12 with a small part in Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya (2000), time and experience has only helped her improve her craft. She admits that starting off early in life turned out to be a big advantage.

“I had time on my side to understand the ways of working in this industry and that taught me to mould myself according to the situation. Also, it wasn’t as competitive, experimental or fast-paced back then, so it felt great to come into my own by taking my own time,” she says, quickly adding that it also meant “proving your worth, finding your place and staying put. The industry grew into being my extended family”.

Now an established name on the small screen, the only challenge, Jennifer feels, is to up her game every single day. “To be better at what you do than yesterday isn’t easy. I don’t want to live a monotonous life and play boring characters. I’m scared of being stagnant,” the actor confesses.

Having worked in many popular shows such as Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kahiin Toh Hoga, Dill Mill Gayye, Saraswatichandra and Bepannaah, the actor is glad to have come a long way. However, she feels that her comeback as Maya in the show Beyhadh in 2016 proved to be a turning point in her career and made her fall in love with her work like never before.

“Acting was my dream; I stumbled upon it and stayed in,” says Jennifer, continuing, “Before Maya, I was acting but not enjoying it so much. But when Beyhadh happened, it changed that for me. Pushing your limits, researching, experimenting, taking risks and seeing it be appreciated felt so good. There was suddenly so much more to acting and it only gets better.”

TV shows these days are also bringing stronger characters and subjects in the finite series format and according to Jennifer, this is making many actors return to the medium. “Screenplays touch upon real stories and have gone beyond the sensational saas-bahu sagas or complicated family feuds. It’s more experimental. There’s respect and value for the hard work and risks you take as an actor regardless of the outcome,” she shares.