Exclusive - Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain's Soma Rathod aka amma ji on her viral photo: Wasn't even aware of it going viral, I was 20 back then and weighed 52 kg

Soma Rathod (37) is a phenomenal actress and has been entertaining the audience for the past 10 years. The actress, who is seen in the sitcoms, Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain and Jijaji Chhat Parr Koii Hai did an exclusive interaction with ETimes TV where she opened up about her photo from the younger days that recently went viral, her struggle in the industry, being overweight, the lockdown and more. Read the interview:(Photo: Instagram)

It had been an amazing experience shooting with the TV show Jijaji Chhat Per Hain for 2 years. Now, we are back with Jijaji Chhat Parr Koi Hai, which has a mix of horror in it. After the lockdown, we've again got back into the original flavour of the show, which we wanted and in which, the audience enjoyed watching us. Mostly, I and Anup Upadhyay ji (Murari Bansal) have romantic-comedy scenes, which is loved and we are back at it. We've got the rhythm right now and the episodes are churning out to be interesting.(Photo: Instagram)

I would love to try a negative character at least once. I also want to do emotional scenes and the way I make people laugh, I also want to make them cry.(Photo: Instagram)

I keep getting a lot of offers but the problem is, I can't do any other show because I am already occupied. I am doing two shows right now - Jijaji Chhat par Koii Hai and Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain and to take out time for a third show is very difficult. But yes, if I am approached for a web show or a film, I will definitely take up the offer because I know that would be for a limited period but daily soaps consume a lot of time.(Photo: Instagram)

I have very good tuning with the entire star cast of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain. With Shilpa Shinde (former Angoori bhabhi) ji, I share a great rapport because we had earlier worked together in the show, Lapataganj. She's a very good friend of mine but also shouts at me (laughs) because of my childish behaviour. She is a very mature person and screams at me when I act idiotically. Rohitashv Gour, who plays the role of my son in the show, is my senior. When I had joined Lapataganj, he was already doing the show and I got to learn a lot from him. Shubhangi (Atre) is a very sweet person. With Soumya Tandon (former Anita bhabhi) I used to be very comfortable. I would personally go to her room and spend time with her. And, whenever she would see me, she would say, 'Shomlu, Shomlu'. Soumya would always hug me and say, 'tumko hug karke bahut achhi feeling aati hai, Soma.' (It feels really good to hug you, Soma.) With Nehha (Pendse) I have done May I Come In Madam? for 2 years. So, it gets quite comfortable to work with all of them.(Photo: Instagram)

(Laughs) Yes, I did see. A few people forwarded the picture to me and said, it has gone viral. I wasn't even aware of it. Yes, that is my photo from when I was 20 years old and my weight was 52. I was trying my luck in the entertainment industry, and had got the photoshoot done thinking that whatever I get - be it movies or modelling, I will take it up. But, I was more interested in acting.(Photo: Instagram)

I get a lot of mood swings (laughs). When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher and would gather the children of my colony, sit with a cane and teach them. Then I wanted to become a cop and serve the nation. Then I thought, if I have to do everything then that can be possible only through acting. Then I joined the acting industry, and here I am.(Photo: Instagram)

I came to Mumbai in 2005 and at that time, I never thought about acting. Then I thought, now that I have come to this city, let's try to get into acting. My struggle started from there and I worked really hard for four years. After which, I started getting small roles, I did cameos. Slowly and steadily, I got approached for Lapataganj, which again, was for a cameo. It was my dream to work for the show, Lapataganj because I was in love with the characters of that show and would always pray of being a part of it, which happened eventually. I'd gone for a cameo but the makers and the audience loved my character so much that I ended up doing that show for four and a half years. That's how my journey began and undoubtedly, I have worked and struggled a lot to achieve this. It's not like that I have a Godfather or I have an amazing figure that would make it easier for me. You all know that I have always been on the heavier side. With such a physique, the struggle just doubles up and becomes harder. With God's, elders', and fans' blessings I am here, entertaining all of you.(Photo: Instagram)

I am very happy with my body and never had any regrets about being overweight. My heavy body has never interfered with my flexibility - I can dance, run and do everything. I don't get affected by it. In fact, I get very happy because I stand out in the crowd and don't get lost in it. There are very few people who are in my competition in the industry when it comes to characters. So, I have the benefit of roles being specifically written keeping me in mind. I think people are fond of me because of my appearance. So, I don't look hot but I am cute and I really love that.(Photo: Instagram)

I have been working continuously for the past 10 years because of which I wouldn't get time for my personal life. I was unable to spend time with myself. When the lockdown happened, I wasn't filled with fear. I enjoyed it a lot in that one year. I stayed in my house, spent time with my pets and I was certain that the lockdown will be lifted one fine day. My home is in an area, which is surrounded by mountains and greenery. It is the best location to live in, especially during this pandemic because there isn't anyone around. (Photo: Instagram)

We get our payments at the end of three months and when the lockdown began, I did not have to think about anything at least for the next 3-4 months because, after that, I was anyways supposed to receive my payment. By July, the shoot of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain had started, I would not receive the entire payment. We had little work and accordingly we would receive the payment. So, that wasn't my fear. The rest of the things like paying timely EMIs was worrisome but the government had granted relief for three months, so that was also a huge relief.(Photo: Instagram)

It's a great thing due to which many people will get a chance to showcase their talent. There won't be any discrimination because for acting, what matters is your talent, not appearance. What could be better than artists being cast on the basis of their skill and not physical appearance?(Photo: Instagram)

I never got demotivated. I wasn't very fat or very thin, I was in the mid-range when I started auditioning for roles and visiting the casting agents. Not too thin, not too fat. I wouldn't fit any criteria and got rejected because of it. Then, one of my friends suggested that I put on more weight, at least, I will be categorised in the oversized actors' list. After that, I gained weight and I started getting work. Now, I don't think about anything because writers keep me in their minds and write characters. A person has to be strong and confident thinking that even they have a place in this world. People demean you and make you feel that you are not meant for this world but I would say that we (overweight people) require more space and therefore, there is more space in this world for us. (Photo: Instagram)