One-To-One

‘Don’t want to look back’

Strap: Television’s popular face, Karuna Pandey was recently seen in movie ‘Motichoor Chaknachoor’. She talks about how television actors are finally getting their due in cinema too

Tell us about your journey in the telly world so far?

I started in 2005 with Rajashri Production’s Woh Rehnewali Mehlon Ki and then I have done six shows with the same production house. I did Bhootwala Serial with Binaifer Kohli. My shows Bhage Re Mann and Devanshi, where I have played the self-proclaimed Godmother, were appreciated by the audience. I have had a very satisfying and fruitful career on television.

Do you think TV actors are finally getting due attention in showbiz?

Luckily, the perception that TV actors cannot get good roles in films is no more valid. The industry has changed and today you need to be a good actor. In my view, the key difference is time – you get more time to perfect your performance in films; TV serials do not give you that time. Actors of TV and films are like a big family now and I am hoping that this change is here to stay.

How was the experience of working in movie ‘Motichoor Chaknachoor’?

It was delightful! The cast and crew were like a family on the set. We used to eat together, crack jokes, laugh and we were all passionate about the story. Our director had given us full freedom. She is extremely humble and always had a smile on her face.

How did you get this movie?

I was cast just a week before we started shooting. There was no workshop and I could not do many reading sessions either. On my own, I read some Bundelkhandi slang and also saw couple of Bundelkhandi films. That helped me a lot. In the film we have kept it quite subtle because the dialect should not overpower the Hindi language as we were targeting the Hindi audience.

How has been the response?

While shooting for the film we got this feeling that we will get a good review. I am really overwhelmed the way reviewers have said so many good things about me. I am thankful and happy. Appreciation is the best thing for an actor. Our Director Debamitra Biswal has written the story beautifully. The dialogue writer has given me some awesome lines to say which took the character to a different level.

So which medium will you focus on now?

I have always wanted to become a film actor. Today, there are multiple mediums; I have done almost all of them. I have also been a theatre actor in NSD. In films, a good character with a good banner is on my wish list. I am open to all kind of mediums only I want to move step by step.