‘Novel experience to play role of mom to teen’

ONE of the leading ladies is Jailoshini Naidoo, radio presenter and comedian who plays the character of Jennifer. Jennifer’s daughter falls in love with the boy next door.

Q: So how does it feel playing the character of a mother to a daughter in love with the son of your neighbouring enemy?

A: I have mixed emotions. It was a novel experience for me to play the role of a mother to a teenage daughter. In the role, I felt an overwhelming need to nurture and protect my daughter, but I also felt overcome by the natural human instinct to outdo and defeat my “enemy”. My character, Jennifer, is also consumed by her dislike for her neighbour, Shanthi. There are also other deeper-seated emotions and reasons for her dislike of the neighbour’s son.

Q: What did you enjoy most about shooting in your home town?

A: It was indeed a warm, nostalgic journey since I grew up in Chatsworth, and lived and taught there for many years. For me, it will always be home. I treasured every minute of shooting, as my mind raced back to memorable moments in the vibrant, bustling hub of Chatsworth. It is vibrant, dynamic, colourful, warm and as always, we were overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity of the community while we were filming.

Q: Are in-law issues still a plaguing factor in households of today, and if so, why?

A: I think in the absence of tolerance and acceptance, in-law issues persist even in a modern, progressive society.

Q: What’s next in the pipeline for Jailoshini Naidoo?

A: While continuing to grow my production company, I have scheduled national performances of my comedy theatre show over the next few months. I’m also thrilled to announce that good fortune continued to rain on me this week as I received confirmation of my role in an international television series. It’s definitely going to be a busy year.