I am looking at finite projects right now: Prachee Shah Paandya

Prachee Shah Paandya, who has done Hindi TV shows like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Ek Shringaar-Swabhiman, and films like Chhatriwali, Mulk and Judwaa 2, has an OTT release (co-starring Kriti Sanon) lined up. She says, “I am looking forward to the film, but I am still waiting for the right breakthrough on OTT. I am not in a hurry; whatever has happened to me, has happened at the right time. You cannot rush everything.”

‘Abhishek Shah brought me to D-Town’
Prachee, who debuted in Gujarati films in 2017 with Shubh Aarambh, was seen in the recent D-Town release Udan Chhoo. She says, “When I said yes to Shubh Aarambh in 2016, it was Abhishek Shah (filmmaker) who convinced me, saying, ‘Aap ek baar narration le lo.’ It was such a beautiful, sweet film. So, he deserves credit for bringing me to Gujarati films.”
She adds, “After that, a lot of films were offered to me, but maybe the timing was not right, and I was busy. Sometimes, the script offered to me didn’t excite me enough. I took up Udan Chhoo because I loved the storyline and it was a wonderfully layered character, plus I was playing an important character. Also, it was Deven (Bhojani) bhai’s debut in Gujarati films and I kept teasing him that I am more experienced in this space.”

‘Don’t want to invest in long-term projects’
Is she willing to take up Gujarati TV shows too? Prachee says, “It’s been seven years since I left Hindi TV. I don’t want to get into such a long-term commitment because it leaves me no time for stage shows, films and other things. Currently, I have a lot of freedom to do other stuff. I want to be there for my teen daughter. A lot of Hindi shows are being offered to me, but I want to take it up if there is a newer approach.”
She adds, “Television has a fantastic reach, but I think it needs to change, even if it’s a small change for the better. It has the capacity to be at par with OTT. In fact, they are looking at finite shows now, which is good. In that case, you can move on to something else.”
Prachee, also a Kathak dancer, holds a Guinness World Record for 93 spins in a minute. She shares, “Dance has been a very integral part of my life. Currently, I am looking at finite projects so that I can balance dance too.”

‘I want to do Marathi projects’
Since my surname is Shah Paandya, people think that I am a hardcore Gujarati, but I am more fluent in Marathi than in Gujarati. Marathi is my mother tongue, so I want to work in Marathi films as well. I have a lot of co-actors who are friends and are stars in that space (Marathi industry). Hopefully I get to work with them someday.