Ashwini Kalsekar, Jaya Bhattacharya on playing Maham Anga

Good friends Ashwini Kalsekar and Jaya Bhattacharya are playing Maham Anga in 'Jodha Akbar 'and 'Bharat Ka Veer Putra " Maharana Pratap', respectively. Maham Anga was Akbar's wet nurse, who was treated like his own mother by the Emperor. While Ashwini entered soon after 'Jodha Akbar' started, Jaya's entry took place two months after Maharana Pratap's launch. They play the same character with the only difference being in the colour of their costume " Ashwini wears white, while Jaya is clad in grey. We talked to the two actresses about their respective tryst with history. Read on...

Ashwini Kalsekar in Jodha Akbar On her white costume: White gives a Sufi feel to my appearance. It makes Maham look like a pious, God-loving woman. It's an attempt to camouflage her true intentions. Though she is genuinely into God, when it comes to the siyaasat (throne), she has evil intentions. She wants to secure a place for her son Adham Khan. I'm glad about my look as I don't have to change frequently and spend time on makeup.

On Jaya Bhattacharya playing the same role: Jaya is a close friend and we have worked together in Suhana Safar. She is among the actors who laid the foundation for negative characters. A great actress, she speaks Urdu fluently. I am really excited to see how the two characters pan out. Both shows will try their best to put their best foot forward. In turn, the viewers will also get to see quality work. But there is no fear of competition as I don't work to compete with others.

Jaya Bhattacharya in Maharana Pratap On her grey costume: I feel the grey costume with a black border is apt for Maham Anga as she has grey shades. While she loves Akbar to death, maybe even more than her own son, she harbours intense hatred for the Rajputs. She is not royalty and hence, the de-glam look.

On Ashwini Kalsekar playing the same role: Ashwini is playing the role according to the brief she has been given. She is a brilliant actress, so her performance must be good. Maham Anga's role in Jodha Akbar is different, because in that show, Akbar is a grown-up man who marries Jodha. He has already ascended the throne and likes to take his own decisions. However, I play foster mother to a 13-year-old Akbar and prepare him for the throne. My character is more of a guide. It's a bit grey as she has issues with Akbar's biological mother, Hamida Bano, and Bahram Khan, the emperor's general and tutor.