Tapeshwari Sharma talks about how she manages to balance her professional and personal life

How did your cameo in Kasautii Zindagi Kay happen?

I had come to Mumbai to do my HR management course and then one day outside my college, I was stopped by someone conducting introductions for Balaji productions. I was thrilled to give that introduction and, in a few days, got a call to do a cameo in Kasautii Zindagi Kay.

What change did motherhood bring to your life?

Motherhood has changed the way I think and the way I function. I was a carefree person and also a little lazy, but being a mother has made me strong, more hardworking and passionate. It has made me realise that I am capable of so much more.

Was participating in the beauty pageant always a plan?

Well, I always wanted to participate in the Miss India competition but because I don’t fit the height requirement, I could never do that. But then later I became a part of the Mrs Beauty pageant. Irrespective of me not having enough time, my husband motivated me to participate.

What is the secret to surviving in the industry for such a long time?

However glamorous this industry looks, it is equally difficult, mentally and physically, to be a part of it. One has to be ready to go through hundreds of auditions to land one role and even if you make a name for yourself, the auditions and rejections don’t really stop. One needs a lot of patience and self-confidence to survive here.

Deejaying, acting and modelling, what do you prefer the most and why?

Acting is what I have wanted to do ever since I was a child. Acting is my first love. As an artiste, it feeds my soul and to actually make a living out of it is a bonus. Deejaying is something I have discovered very recently in my life, just about two years back.

How has the industry changed over time?

It has definitely changed a lot from the time I joined it about 14 years back. Now, with the presence of social media, it is a different ball-game altogether.

What is your biggest achievement?

I am proud of all my achievements, however, little or big they are. Coming from a small town and finding respect in this industry is an achievement for me. Holding a beauty pageant title is a little more special because I was able to achieve that while fulfilling my responsibilities of being a mother, a wife and a daughter-in-law.

Who has been your inspiration?

My biggest inspiration have been my parents and my husband. My parents have supported me blindly in everything that I have wanted to do, so I knew I couldn’t let them down.