‘I don’t want to restrict myself to only certain type of roles’

Says Maleeka R Ghai who plays the role of a mother in the show Desh Ki Beti Nandini…

The talented actress Maleeka R Ghai, who started working in this industry at a very early age of 15 years and entertained the audience with her acting skills, was seen missing for almost 10 years from the television industry. But now she is back with a bang as she is seen playing the role of Aanchal Pandey in Rashmi Sharma’s daily soap Desh Ki Beti Nandini on Sony TV.

On the same we got in touch with Maleeka R Ghai to know more about her character in the show Desh Ki Beti Nandini, on why she took a long break of 10 years, how does it feel to come back after so many years and much more.

Here it is what she said…

How is it being a part of the show Desh Ki Beti Nandini?
I am very happy to be a part of the show Desh Ki Beti Nandini. This show is very special to me as I get to perform different shades in the character. Also Desh Ki Beti Nandini is not like the typical Saas bahu saga, it is altogether a different subject and I am enjoying very much. This is my first show with Rashmi Sharma and I am very happy as it is going really well so far. The entire production house is very helpful and supportive.

Tell me something about your character in the show Desh Ki Beti Nandini?
I am playing the character of Aanchal Pandey. This lady is not the typical mother that we see in the daily soaps. She has a lot of shades to play and that is what appealed to me when I first heard about this character. My character is such that the audience will surely be able to relate to it, in fact not just my character but all the other characters in the show.

There are many new-comers in the show, so how has it been shooting with them?
Yes, there are many new comers in the show but they are extremely talented and down to earth. It is great working with all of them. We all share a great bonding too; be it the Pandey family or the Raghuvanshi family. Whenever I am heading towards the sets I always have a smile as we all have become really good friends and it is very much a homely environment on the sets of the show.

At a young age you are playing the character of a mother, are you happy to play this role?
The situation in the television industry has become such that they want a younger mother. Nowadays we see a lot of young girls playing the role of mother. And basically if you ask me playing a mother’s role really does not matter to me as far as I am playing a good role. As an actor I should be able to explore my acting skills then be it any character that I am offered.

From quite some years now you were seen missing from the television industry…
I had quit television for almost 10 years. I made a comeback after 10 years with the show Punar Vivah and Balika Vadhu where I played a cameo. With Desh Ki Beti Nandini it is a proper come back as I am playing a continuous role in this show.

Tell us about your initial years in acting.
At the age of 15 I entered this acting industry. I basically started as a theater artist, then I got into acting in films and I started my career into television with the show Parivartan which aired on Zee TV. In 2002 I took a break and after a gap of almost 10 years I am back on Television. Meanwhile I had indulged myself in Meditation and hence I was away for a long time.

What kind of roles do you wish to play in future?
I would definitely want to play a totally different character which I haven’t played before. Being an actor I don’t want to restrict myself towards any one particular type of a role. Neither do I want to get typecast.

We wish Maleeka R Ghai all the very best for her future.