Doree is all set to bring a compelling social drama that is sure to spark a conversation about gender inequality. The show revolves around a six-year-old Doree, who challenges the male-dominated handloom industry with the support of her foster father, Ganga Prasad.
Kailashi Devi Thakurain played by Sudhaa Chandran is the dictator of the Thakur family who is well known handloom aristocrats, and her sons are the heirs of her empire. Talking about the show, Sudhaa Chandran shares her views and experiences.
1. Please tell us about your character in ‘Doree’.
A. I am playing the role of Kailashi Devi Thakur. She is a very resilient and strong-willed woman who only wants boys to be born in her family. She does not want a girl child because she thinks of them as unworthy and incapable of carrying forward the family’s legacy. She is a stickler for traditions and a staunch propagator of patriarchy. She's a woman of authority in the household, responsible for running the family business, and believes in upholding the established gender norms of her time. She represents the conservative ideologies that the story aims to challenge through a six-year-old Doree.
2. What challenges do you face when doing such roles?
A. The most fulfilling aspect of being an actor is the opportunity to step into different shoes and explore a myriad of characters. It's like living multiple lives in one lifetime. However, it's not all glamour and glitz. The challenges are countless right from the pressure of delivering compelling performances to dealing with the uncertainty of the industry. These challenges make my journey even more exciting and worthwhile.
3. Did you have to undergo any preparation to go under the skin of the character?
A. Well, once I got the narration, I understood what the storytellers wanted. Any actor needs to get the base right first. I sought help from my director Rohit Goyal sir, our writers’ team, the creative team, and of course the COLORS team. While prepping for this character I had to be mindful of the fact that Benarasi women are simple, innocent, god-fearing, and rooted in their traditions. Kailashi Devi is an anomaly in the world of that holy city. She’s shrewd and knows how to get her way. I needed to familiarise myself with the character and I did that by reading the script several times. My approach to playing Kailashi Devi was to embrace the character's traditional values, language, and mannerisms while staying true to the role's emotional context.
4. How different and interesting is your role going to be in this show?
A. My performance in Naagin was really over the top. However, this performance is very different. It's very restrained and subtle. I play a woman who has gone through a lot in life. Many shows have been premised on patriarchy and girl-child abandonment. The story of Doree is very different from all of them because it captures a progressive woman, Doree fighting against a regressive woman, Kailashi Devi Thakur. This is a battle of two ideologies that are pitted against each other in many spheres of our lives. It’s a unique narrative propelled by interesting characters and one of them is Kailashi Devi.
5. Do you think society is still patriarchal when it comes to giving women the share of liberty, whether it’s choosing their career or life partner or any other important thing?
A. We might try to overlook or deny the truth, but the patriarchal system is still very much alive, and that's disheartening. We tend to believe we've made progress, but the old ways persist. I've seen numerous families, not just in rural areas but also in big cities, adhering to this patriarchal mindset. Even today, when a girl decides on a career, there's usually a debate about what she should or shouldn't do. This system endures. We can't simply ignore it, but we can take a step forward and work towards changing it. For instance, in our upcoming show 'Doree', we're addressing gender equality, showing a girl standing up for her rights. It's a wonderful move by the COLORS team, known for their successful and thought-provoking shows like 'Balika Vadhu' and 'Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan'.
6. After watching the promo, even your negative character appears strong and impactful. Are you able to share the message by portraying such a role? A. I believe if I am able to portray my character in an impactful way and connect with the audience, it means that I have succeeded as an actor. Whenever I play a negative role, they are author-backed and strong, which somehow reaches the audiences who further accept it with open arms. It is very difficult for the fans to accept a negative character which makes it even more difficult to make room for it in their hearts. We can take examples of Amjad Khan, Pran Sahab, and Amrish Puri Ji, who were successful in winning the audience's hearts while portraying various negative characters. I am happy and thankful that all my experiments depicting negative roles are accepted beautifully by the audience and my fans. Moreover, a negative character should be impactful so that the positive one can shine.
7. How difficult was it for you to act with Mahi - the child actor in the show?
A. It hasn't been a challenge at all – in fact, when I'm not shooting, I miss her immensely. She possesses an exceptional talent for acting, and always remembers her lines. On occasions, I am stunned by her ability to convey emotions through her expressions, a skill that I believe would be challenging for even experienced actors. What's truly remarkable is that she's unaware of the impact her expressions have on a scene. I call her a wonder kid because there have been moments when she has spontaneously improvised a scene without any guidance.
8. Talking about your look in ‘Doree’ and other serials, how much have you contributed to the same?
A. There are two important things: teamwork and research. We have opted for a very traditional look from Uttar Pradesh. I haven’t used stick-on kumkum, I apply sindoor on my forehead. I’m also wearing green and red bangles, which do not match with the outfit. It is a trend in Uttar Pradesh to wear green and red bangles. I have followed the same tradition to make the character look relatable and have not gone overboard when it comes to jewellery and other accessories.
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