Taarak Mehta’s Sunayana Fozdar on her struggles to get good roles during her initial days: I would often be told that I am too fair and modern looks wise

Sunayana Fozdar, who plays the role of Anjali Mehta in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, recently spoke to ETimes TV in a live chat. The actress recalled how she started her journey with a music song to doing TV shows, struggles she faced while bagging a role and more. Sunayana bares her heart out in this conversation as she talks about the mistakes she made during her TV journey, her dating life, online trolls and many such revelations. Excerpts from the conversation.

It is very easy to impress me. You don’t have to give me fancy gifts or candle light dinners. I am more about small gestures making a bigger impression. It shows the person’s caring side. It makes me happy. I am very sentimental.

I am totally an old-school romantic at heart. I do feel it is missing in today’s age. Everything is done through WhatsApp and Instagram. Everything is easier to access. The effort is missing. I was so into books, I understood the concept of dating very late. That magic is missing.

There have been many times when I am just friendly with a guy, but he thinks he is dating me. I am very shy. Blind dates have never been my thing.

Every character has been a part of me. I am a mixture of all these characters. Shalini from Belanwali Bahu was quite hilarious as she would do anything to click a selfie. In Priyanka’s role from Ek Rishta Saanjhedaari Ka, I had to emote the traditional values a lot. As Anjali in Taarak Mehta, I play this fitness enthusiast and a conscious person. Also, taking care of her husband so much, like a kid, is also challenging. But my personal favourite was Belanwali Bahu. It was quite challenging and tough.

There have been many. For me, touchwood, getting work was never difficult. I am not from this background. I got picked up from college for my first music video on Bappi da’s Gori Hai Kalaiyan. Then I did South films, ads and then I got my first break in TV – Santaan. But the point was, to get good roles was always a struggle. If I did a particular role, I would get typecast in that. So to break free from those stereotypes was a struggle. At that time, while casting people would say, ‘Aap fair ho, you look very modern.’ I started my career playing the role of a middle class girl from a ‘chawl’. People would say, ‘Aap gareeb nahi dikh sakte’. So I would get typecast a lot. But thankfully, I have got good opportunities.

I have made a few mistakes too while choosing work. It took me time to understand how the industry works. I have discovered it myself. Directors ki gaaliyan kha kar, wrong shows karke, I have learnt. I give them all the credit because had I not done them, I wouldn’t have learnt. I wouldn’t value what I have now. Failures teach you more and help you grow. I see my struggles in a positive light.

I live in PJs. I have played very feminine and graceful characters. I am an actress and I dress accordingly. Thankfully, people never got to know that I am very tomboyish. I have such traits. But that’s about being an actor. I can play many roles. All my fans, who don’t know, I hate dressing up. I can go to an award function in a pyajama. I specially dress up and get ready for all my fans. I am so happy people like my sense of dressing and style. I make an effort to dress up for social media.

It depends on the person if you want to see it as a pressure or not. I like to click pictures and have fun. For me, social media is a de-stress tool. I laugh at my own reels. There are pros and cons. But nowadays, there are a lot of casting calls based on social media followers. As an actor, I feel that is not something I am proud of. I don’t support it. But it is important to be active on social media, move ahead with times. We don’t live in the black and white era.

We are public figures. Humein taaliyan bhi public me milti hai, gaaliyan bhi public me. You should ignore trolls and don’t get into a mess. When I joined the show (Taarak), there was so much trolling. Jitni curiosity thi, log utna gussa bhi ho rahe the. There was a lot of hatred. The way I dealt with it was by ignoring. People who were angry with me, my only reply to them was my ‘folded hands’. That’s how I won over a lot of people.

Never say never. Though there are many things out of my comfort zone, I would love to take up Khatron Ke Khiladi. About Bigg Boss, I don’t know if a personality like me can survive, but I won’t say never. I am open to all opportunities that the universe sends. You may just see me in one of those shows, you never know.