Exclusive - Nehha Pendse on playing Anita Bhabhi in Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain: I am not a mimicry artist, will not mimic Saumya Tandon

Gorgeous and stunning Nehha Pendse will soon be stepping into the shoes of Saumya Tandon to play the role of Anita Bhabhi also known as Gori Mem on the show. Nehha, has been away from the small screen for quite some time now is returning to television and will be replacing Saumya, who was part of the show for 5 years. In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, the actress talked about taking up the show, staying from television and stepping into the shoes of Saumya Tandon. Nehha stated in the interview that she is not going to mimic Saumya but will add her perspective to the role of Anita Bhabhi.

I took the project as I was quite ready to start working, go out and meet my fans and audiences. Because it’s been quite a while that I done a show in Hindi. Obviously, I did a film in Marathi which I not in acted in but also produced. But Hindi for some reason I was waiting for a good project to come by and I think Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain was the perfect opportunity. So I took it up.

Yes, there is pressure on my shoulders because the show is running for last 5 years now and it is a successful show. Saumya Tandon, who played the role previously, has left an impression on the audiences mind. So automatically audience expectations also increases that who will come next to play the role. But I have complete faith on the director and writers, that they will make sure that I will give my best.

When you are playing a character and that role has been essayed by someone in the past, for me it is as good as a new role. Because many people are asking me this that are you going to do the same thing or will you bring your own element to the character. So I want everyone to know that I am an artist and not a mimicry artist. I am not going to mimic Saumya Tandon. I am not playing Saumya Tandon, I am going to play Anita Bhabhi. Main Anita Bhabhi ke character ka joh dayra hai uss dayre mein reh kar usmein Apna ek nazariya dekar aur director ke guidance ke andar joh main ek apna perspective laa sakti hoon that’s going to be my efforts.

Yes, this is like a home coming for me. And not just the producer, the director and the writer almost the team of May I Come In Madam is working on this project. Also, I know other people also who are working on the show. It’s not like I am working with a new set of people or actors. I know all of them more or less. I am going to be very comfortable.

Yes, there is a dearth of characters for woman on television and it is sad but the truth. And that’s the reason I cannot relate to a lot of content that is happening on television. There is a constant debate over this. Some people feel television is very regressive, others feel that whatever is going around in our society television is just a mirror of it. I feel both the things are right and I feel it is about individual preference. I don’t like being a part of regressive shows and that’s why it gets difficult for people like us to find work on television. There are times when people tell me that aap toh bus comedy mein jam se gaye ho... and I always tell them no the opportunities I get on television and which I like doing is comedy.

I feel people have tried, attempted to do different things or experiment but unfortunately they have not got the numbers or the TRP. So, it’s not like there have been no courageous producers there have been some but unfortunately they have not been successful because it has been proven now that in television only certain kind of content works. I think what should be done is it is very difficult to be implemented but if some maker is able to do this it will be great. Someone should try to make something which is content driven and at the same time is mass appealing. This is very difficult to do but if this is done it would be really interesting.

See my character is already of a person who is a style conscious person. Anita Bhabhi is a character of a person who runs a grooming classes so as a character she itself is a person who has fashion awareness. So, it gets easy for me that way. For me whichever character I play, I mould myself according to it. If I am playing a villager I will dress up like that. We are working on the look and I am adding my perspective to the character how I feel she should be dressed. I am working with my stylist on it.

With Kapil Sharma’s show Family Time with Kapil Sharma I won’t deny, I felt that the show shutting down abruptly was a pure case of bad timing. But as far as Bigg Boss is concerned I don’t think it did not work in my favour. Because after that show I got opportunities but the offers came my way I was not able to relate with them. And the problem is this the offers that come my way on television are often those which I can’t relate with. At that time I was in a dilemma whether to cash in the popularity of Bigg Boss or to stay true to the artist inside you or yourself. I feel I have gone through a major change or transformation as an artist in the last two years. My thoughts have completely changed.

I don’t mind saying I have a lot of work for commercial purposes. I felt I am an independent woman and there are certain kind of projects that I want to do and I did them because they were giving me commercial profit. But now I have arrived at a stage where I feel if it is not making me happy I won’t do it. This is transition that I have gone in the last two years. I was not sitting idle at home, I made a Marathi film June. Meri simple thinking thi agar log Mujhe uss nazariye se nahi dekh paa rahe toh it’s time now main logon ko apna nazariya Doon. That I can not only do this, I can also do other stuff also. It took time but I am doing things my way.