Divyanka Tripathi aka Vidya of Banoo Mein Tumhari Dulhan who was missing in action for the past one year is back with Mr & Mrs Sharma Allahabadwale on SAB TV.
Divyanka plays Mrs Rashmi Sharma in the sitcom. The story is about her family comprising of husband and son Dabbu who comes to Mumbai from Allahabad and soon get entangled in the day-to-day problems faced by Mumbaites.
Divyanka Tripathi tells Rajul Hegde what to expect. Excerpts:
You were missing from the scene for quite a while. What made you take up this show?
I had about four to five offers in hand at the time this show came along. But they all were very similar to my character in Banoo Main Teri Dulhan. The producers of Mr & Mrs Sharma Allahabadwale convinced me to do this show. I am nervous and very excited because this is the first time that I am doing a comedy.
How did you prepare for the role?
I have worked very hard on my body language and the language. Mrs Sharma is naive, funny and very simplistic woman. I drew from the women I find in my house to play her. I would practice by making faces in front of the mirror. But now I am completely into it. I am just waiting for viewers' reaction.
Are you naive like Mrs Sharma in real life too?
Yes, completely. I have never cracked jokes in my life. In fact, I'm the butt of all jokes. Sometimes I don't get a joke while everyone is laughing. But that doesn't mean I am not intellectually sound [smiles].
Your co-star Rajesh Kumar is a veteran when it comes to comedy. Is it difficult getting in tune with him?
Actually I have worked hard because I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable. It was stressful process for me to get the right timing. He is very supportive and very good in comedy while I am good in romance. So we help each other out because in our show there is comedy and romance [chuckles].
Like you're the character you play, you too are from small town. Does Mumbai still shock you?
I really can't say that because I hardly know people outside my work circle. I have hardly explored the city. It's only recently when I had guests over, that I finally saw some parts of the city. I had to take them on a Mumbai darshan.
Why haven't we seen you in any reality shows?
I can't relate to them. You have to be able to generate enough masala around you to be able to entertain in a reality show. And I don't have it in me. I am a simple person and cannot be something which I am not. So if I take part in a reality show, I would come across as the most unreal person.
Are you planning to do any films?
I would love to do films but I can't expect the makers to give me character roles. They will expect me to be glamorous and I can't do that. I will continue playing characters on TV till the time someone is confident enough to have faith in my talent.
