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I have no regrets about declining lead roles: Pooja Kanwal Mahtani
Soumitra Das, TNN | May 11, 2012, 12.00AM ISTRead More:Uuf Kya Jadoo Mohabbat Hai|Pooja Kanwal Mahtani|Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuchh Kaha|Journey|Heart|Feedback|Awake
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Pooja Kanwal Mahtani
Not many actors would decline a lead role in a daily soap on television, but Pooja Kanwal Mahtani has done it twice and says that she doesn't regret it. "After Palampur Express, I turned down a couple of lead roles and producers were really surprised.
But I really wanted to give time to my family and have no regrets about declining those offers. I wanted to enjoy my personal life and believe me, I was shooting for close to 20 hours in a day even just a couple of months before my marriage! I was really exhausted and realized that it just wasn't worth it," says Pooja, who has done shows like Sasural Genda Phool, been a part of films like Blue Oranges and Uuf Kya Jadoo Mohabbat Hai and even hosted shows like Comedy Circus.
She adds, "There was a phase in my life when I hardly got to sleep and lost my appetite, and I was living some character or the other for the entire duration while I was Awake, thanks to erratic schedules! I could never be myself. Now, I have learnt to balance my professional and personal life."
Currently playing the role of Rashmi in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuchh Kahaa on the small screen, Pooja shares, "As compared to Disha in Sasural Genda Phool, I can relate more to Rashmi in terms of the character's age and looks. It is also a believable character and I have got good Feedback for it."
Looking back at her Journey as an actor, Pooja feels, "Sasural Genda Phool remains closest to my Heart because I got to share screen space with my mother (Anita Kanwal), who also happens to be my critic. It was a fantastic team and I was really involved with that show. In films, playing a rich alcoholic woman in Blue Oranges was challenging and my husband feels that was one of my best performances till date. I loved anchoring. I believe I have grown a lot as an actor in the last few years."
She adds, "Luckily, I have never been typecast and never ended up with bad people in this industry. I have also learnt from my mistakes, especially while doing films. Today, I am very happy doing television."
How much has marriage changed her as a person? She smiles, "Well, I have grown up! I am a lot more mature now and my in-laws and husband are very supportive about the demands of the television industry. Even though I had to shoot for long hours immediately
after I came back from my honeymoon, they supported me. I couldn't have asked for more!"
But I really wanted to give time to my family and have no regrets about declining those offers. I wanted to enjoy my personal life and believe me, I was shooting for close to 20 hours in a day even just a couple of months before my marriage! I was really exhausted and realized that it just wasn't worth it," says Pooja, who has done shows like Sasural Genda Phool, been a part of films like Blue Oranges and Uuf Kya Jadoo Mohabbat Hai and even hosted shows like Comedy Circus.
She adds, "There was a phase in my life when I hardly got to sleep and lost my appetite, and I was living some character or the other for the entire duration while I was Awake, thanks to erratic schedules! I could never be myself. Now, I have learnt to balance my professional and personal life."
Currently playing the role of Rashmi in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuchh Kahaa on the small screen, Pooja shares, "As compared to Disha in Sasural Genda Phool, I can relate more to Rashmi in terms of the character's age and looks. It is also a believable character and I have got good Feedback for it."
Looking back at her Journey as an actor, Pooja feels, "Sasural Genda Phool remains closest to my Heart because I got to share screen space with my mother (Anita Kanwal), who also happens to be my critic. It was a fantastic team and I was really involved with that show. In films, playing a rich alcoholic woman in Blue Oranges was challenging and my husband feels that was one of my best performances till date. I loved anchoring. I believe I have grown a lot as an actor in the last few years."
She adds, "Luckily, I have never been typecast and never ended up with bad people in this industry. I have also learnt from my mistakes, especially while doing films. Today, I am very happy doing television."
How much has marriage changed her as a person? She smiles, "Well, I have grown up! I am a lot more mature now and my in-laws and husband are very supportive about the demands of the television industry. Even though I had to shoot for long hours immediately
after I came back from my honeymoon, they supported me. I couldn't have asked for more!"
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