The second innings

Mona

TV is tiring. We all know it —the ones watching it and the ones acting for it! No wonder it took this Chandigarh girl a good 10 years before she said yes to a show.

Ashima Bhalla, who was last seen in Meri Awaaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni, found working 12 hours almost 30 days a month, difficult. She moved Down South, doing films, only to make it back to the small screen. “Telly offers have been there, but Mere Papa Hero Hiralal offered an arrangement that was not too demanding.”

Story line

This is the story of an auto driver who adopts and raises a daughter all by himself and playing a cop is something that interested Ashima. “It’s lovely to being back to TV when you know you got some days a week to yourself,” says this actress who did two non-fiction shows — Ek Khiladi Ek Hasina and Zor Ka Jhatka — in this time gap.

Why no Punjabi films still on her resume? “I still haven’t done a Punjabi film, isn’t that a shame!” says this boisterous girl, who is looking forward to open her Punjabi innings soon. Telly, films and travel are three requisites for Ashima’s life. “I love seeing new places. One thing that I feel whenever I travel outside is that we should treasure our own country!”

Mere Papa Hero Hiralal airs on Discovery Jeet.

[email protected]