No saas-bahu roles for Aneri

It was Aneri Vajani’s third show, Nisha Aur Uske Cousins (NAUC), which gave her a standing in the television industry and reinforced her pre-existing tomboy image. But the actor is determined to do something different with her fourth show, Beyhadh.

While she wants to play feminine characters, Aneri is not too keen on the “saasbahu type of roles”. She says, “I might play a bahu eventually. One should never say never. But, for now, I want to play the role of an independent girl, who wants to live life on her terms. I am only 22, so no saas-bahu or bechari-type roles for now. My new show will showcase that I can play a tomboy and a regular girl with equal aplomb.”

The actor says she purposely chose different roles in the initial stages of her career. “No one had played a tomboy in a TV show. NAUC’s success gave me recognition. For that show, I attended workshops to behave like a tomboy. I worked on my look too. I had to hang around with guys and not wear dresses. It was tough, but it paid off, so I am happy,” says Aneri, who claims she had a tough time getting another role after that stint.

“People felt I had a tomboyish personality. I had to overcome that and act feminine for the new role,” she adds. Aneri believes that what added to this perception could be that she is a tomboy in real life too. The actor doesn’t always like dressing up or applying makeup before stepping out.

The actor, however, admits that the competition in the industry is tough. She says, “I had promised myself that I will never struggle in my career and the day I do, I will quit. I have never struggled, and I hope I never have to.”

I had promised myself that I will never struggle in my career and the day I do, I will quit. ANERI VAJANI, ACTOR