Vandana Pathak (Meenakshi of Hum Paanch)

Replaces Rupa

"Television keeps me busy," says the actress. But as a rare exception, she steps on to the Gujarati stage again, with Rajendra Butala's Tame Aavya Ne Ame Favya.

Vandana will feature in this Sunday's show at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chowpatty. The play's original cast member, Rupa Divetia (Sarla of Kkusum), is unwell and has to undergo eye surgery, so Pathak is essaying her character.

"It was a last-minute decision," says Pathak. "Rupa is unable to perform due to her ill-health. When Rajendra approached me, I could not refuse him. My first play as a heroine, Adhi Akshar Prem Na, in 1994, was his production."

24-hour deadline

In Tame Aavya Ne Ame Favya, Pathak plays the role of a mother, who gives her ghazal singer son 24 hours to find a suitable partner when he refuses to settle down. The play has both light and emotional moments.
It was theatre that led Vandana to television.

"I did a play called Patwani, also produced by Rajendra Butala. It was written by Imtiaz Patel, who was also writing for Balaji. He told me that Ekta Kapoor was planning a comedy (Hum Paanch) with boisterous, tomboy characters. As I was playing a similar character in Patwani, he thought I would be apt for it. When I met Ekta she found me suitable to play Meenakshi."

Pathak does not want to take on too many assignments and prefers to work with people she is comfortable with. "My kids are still young. They are my priority at the moment," she says.

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