COMPLEX CHARACTERS’

Actor Sayantani Ghosh feels the trick in the industry is to figure out which roles work for one

Ihave heard that actors are scared of committing to mythological shows as most feel they require a lot of effort,” says Sayantani Ghosh, who has made a name for herself with various TV shows such as Naaginn, Meri Maa, Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar and Santoshi Maa. “I love playing complex characters and the story should be exciting for me. The parts I have played in mythological shows have been quite interesting. These shows have challenges because of the costume, language and set-up, but then all genres have their own challenges. I have enjoyed them as they are a refreshing change from the other dramas on air. They are a world of their own,” says the actor, who is looking forward to portraying Kunti in her new show, after having played Satyavati in Mahabharat, which aired four years ago.

Sayantani admits she is a workaholic and prefers taking fewer breaks. The last time she took one was nine years ago, for almost 10 months. “I feel fortunate to get work that keeps me busy round-the-year. I like working. I think after working for 15 years, I have established myself as an actor. The trick is to figure out the roles that work for you. After a certain age and experience, you want roles that need more from you and have a graph that you can build on. I feel fortunate to get better and better roles. Especially the appreciation, love and respect I got for my last show Naamkarann was great. I feel happy that in the industry, people think of me as a bankable actor,” she says.

Sayantani admits it is difficult to be choosy as there is a lot of competition in the industry for getting good roles. “There are so many channels and so many shows. Also, these days, channels don’t shy away from pulling the plug on a three-month-old TV show if it does not deliver the desired ratings. With digital content on the rise, everything has to click for a show to work,” says Sayantani, adding, “That is the challenge. People come and go in the entertainment industry. There are overnight stars with super successful stories. However, there is always place for a good actor. Everyone wants to work with good talent. If you are a decent enough actor, you will always be in demand.”