Muskaan Nancy James: I cried a lot on the last day of 'Mata ki Chowki's' shoot; was too attached to the show!

One of the most popular Television show, Mata ki Chowki completed it's 13 years. The show first premiered in 2008 and become a huge hit amongst the viewers. We at India Forums got in touch with Actress Muskaan Nancy James who played the role of Vaishnavi to know more about her journey in the show. Going down the memory lane, Muskaan spoke to us about her Journey, memories and much more. Have a look: 

1. 'Mata ki Chowki' is completing 13 years now, so how's the feeling, is it nostalgic for you?

It is, it's been 13 years and time flies. I remember the time we were celebrating, we were shooting, doing so many things and especially now in this current scenario of Covid-19, when I look back at the time,  it's a very different feeling. Our life was so different 13 years back and now suddenly, the entire nation has changed into something else. 

2. Can you tell us something about your Journey in the show?

Journey was very beautiful and it also had too many ups and downs. I remember refusing the show initially, because I was too young at that time to play the role of a mother and a married woman. So I asked my producer on the first day if he can please give me some other role like a sister or something, because I was 16 back then. Then they convinced me and said that nobody can do this role and you're the best for it and you look like a Pahadi girl as well. They wanted a girl from Kashmir, so they convinced me and I said yes. We began shooting just 2 days after I said yes for the show and on the 3rd day we went to Kashmir. We shot there for 2 months almost. 

3. Since you mentioned that you initially refused the show, so what's the one thing about the show which attracted you and made you say yes to it?

I think my producers, Siddharth Tewary and Vikas Seth. They both told me to sit and talk to them and asked me not to think that the show will lead to people calling me mother or anything else. It will infact change my life and they asked me to have some faith. They said that they are not trying to convince me just because they need a girl for the show desperately, but rather asked me to trust them and the cast that this will change my entire life. I don't know what striked me but I told them that I'll get back to you in sometime. When they said that 'It will change your life' and 'Trust us', the one world 'trust' made me change my mind. Everyone was so positive towards me and were confident that I could do it. So I felt that why am I the only person who is saying that I cannot do it? So I think I believed that one 'trust' word and that's how I got to play this role.

4. What changes have the show brought into your life as an actor and in your career?

It has changed a lot. Because, earlier I used to think that acting is very easy. I did my first show for sony 'Thodi Khushi Thode Gham', I was very young, so for me it was like you just have to put on the makeup, do your hair, dress up nicely and say your lines. After doing this show, I got to know what is acting, what is makeup, light, camera, angle, everything I've learnt from it. Also, the people around me, my director and my team, they were so supportive, they never made me feel that I don't know anything about camera and light. Personally as well, everybody used to think that I fast and I go to the temple after doing Mata ki Chowki. But it's not like that, I used to go there earlier as well and I've been keeping fasts since I was a child but yes after this show, I started believing a lot more in God and became more positive. At the same time, I wasn't that mature because I was too young to be mature, I was just enjoying the phase. I had become more responsible towards my family and my work. 

5. Did you undergo some special preparations for the role?

No, as I told you I didn't get any chance to do preparation for anything. The day I went for the look test, I was shopping somewhere and the casting director called me & asked to come there. So I just went randomly and when I was coming back home from the look test, I got a call saying that you've been selected. I was like how's it possible, I was just there at your office like an hour back but they said no, you've been selected and they asked me to come back and talk to the producer and all. I did not get any chance to prepare for anything, I was shooting the promo on the second day and on the third day, I was travelling to Kashmir. Although, because there was a girl who played my childhood role, I had to go through all that and look at how she used to look, say and everything. So I just got a few hours or a few minutes to go through all of that. But once I was there with the proper costumes and dialogues, then I think I got the character. 

6. Lastly, do you recall any special memories or moments from the sets?

Yes, there are a few memories, firstly we were in Kashmir for two months so that was a beautiful memory, we all used to go together to have food and all. Secondly, on the sets, if anybody's phone rang, then that person had to pay 600 rs fine and from that money, the person had to get ice cream for the entire team. So everyday, someone or the other would have their phone ringing and then he/she would treat us with icecream. However, in the entire 4 years, my phone never rang because I used to immediately keep my phone on silent as soon as I left my home. However, my director and my team tried a lot so that once atleast my phone will ring and I'll have to treat them and they got tired and said that now the show is going to end, atleast now treat us. Then I did treat them with ice cream. 

I cried a lot on the last day of the shoot, we couldn't shoot for almost 2 hours because I was very attached to the show. It had been four years and the show gave me everything. Everybody consoled me and said that life has to move on, you'll be doing other shows and will be working with the same people in the next show. So, yes that was a very painful moment for me. 

Lastly, I would just like to say that wherever I am today, it's all because of 'Mata ki Chowki' and my fans' love for the show.