Aroona Interview- article | Naaginn..Waadon ki Agnipariksha

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Posted: 17 years ago

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Now, a naagin on the small-screen

Chaya Unnikrishnan

There was a phase in the late eighties when films on Icchadari Naagin were churned out in regular succession thanks to Sridevi's beguiling nagin. Now, Aroona Irani is all set to revive the snake magic with her new serial
What prompted you to produce a serial on naag-naagin, which is completely mythical?
It may be mythical but people still relate to it.The idea came to me eight months ago when I was watching India TV . The c hannel was showing an incident related to snakes where-in a man couldn't stay in his house because a naag- in had entered the house. We were told that she had plonked herself there to take avenge her mate, the naag's death! Naagin ka badla, screamed the anchor dramaticaly and the germ of idea was born. Also, there was this police station which had become a regular hound of 12 snakes and no one did anything to remove them because they feared some naag would take revenge! I saw this capsule on Aaj Tak and that further served as an inspiration for my serial. Is your serial Naaginn also about nagin ka badla?
Yes. Naaginn is a tale of an Ichadhari Naaginn who transforms herself to take revenge from the Rathod family that had killed her parents for attaining the invaluable Naagmani. She gets married into the same family but her duty as a wife comes in between her revenge and her love towards her husband. The serial will premiere on October 5 and will be aired Friday-Sunday at 8.30 pm on Zee. Sayantani Ghosh is playing the lead. The rest of the cast includes Ali Hasan, Siddhart Dhawan and Shabaaz Khan. Aren't you also acting in it.
Yes, I am playing a positive, pious, traditional lady. It is a role completely in contrast with the one I am playing in Maayka.
You stepped into Maayka as a replacement for Neelima Purendhekar...
(Cuts in) I have very good relations with Zee. After all, it's the channel which gave me my first break as a producer. I remember submitting my show Mehndi Tere Naam Ki to various channels but Zee picked it up. Since then, I have produced a couple of more serials for them including Tum Bin and Rabba Ishq Na Hove. So, when they approached me and said, "tumko yeh karna hai", I agreed immediately. Of course, being a replacement actor is the most difficult job. One actor has already created an image in the viewer's eye. It's a challenge to erase that image and create a place for yourself.
You are playing a negative role after a long time.
Yes. I am playing the vamp after nearly 16-17 years. Believe me, initially, I was apprehensive of getting the right expression. I thought I had forgotten to play up the negative look , the loud gestures. However, now I am enjoying myself thoroughly and feel grateful to Zee for approaching me.

Why aren't we seeing you in films these days?
I have done all kinds of roles in films and they don't hold any charm for me. Don't get me wrong, but I don't want to do a film for the heck of it. I need a really good role to lure me to the big screen. In any case, these days there are hardly any strong character roles for women. Films have become completly male-oriented and you'll find either a Boman Irani or Paresh Rawal getting the cream of character roles.

Are you looking for a role akin to Beta?
No, even it is 50 per cent of what I did in Beta I am willing to do it. We've heard that you are all set to turn a film director?
Yes. Prakash Pange approached me with this script and I found it very interesting. Currently, we are working on it. Once it's ready I will approach Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh and Tusshar.

Looks like it's a comedy?
Absolutely. Aaj Kal to comedy hi chalte hai.

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