Television, today, isn’t just bread and butter; but also wine and cheese: Sukirti Kandpal

Sukirti Kandpal, who won our hearts as Dr. Riddhimi Gupta in Dill Mill Gayye and as Pia Dobrial in Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani, has bagged the role of an NRI Simran in Life OK’s upcoming show Kaisa Ye Ishq….Ajab Sa Risk Hai is a beautiful and slim curly haired actress.

In a talk with us, Sukriti talks of her role in her new show, her co-star Gaurav S Bajaj and future career plans. Excerpts:

You played an NRI in your previous serial Rab Se Sona Ishq. In Kaisa Ye Ishq….Ajab Sa Risk Hai, you are playing the same once again. What prompted you to play an NRI twice?

(blushes) It is simply a coincidence. I feel that may be because I can carry both the Indian and Western look well.

Are you playing a character similar to Jazz in Rab Se Sona Ishq?

They aren’t similar but two different characters.

You had left a daily soap because of health reasons. Why are you taking up another daily soap?

I was ill then, but am better now. That is why I took up this show.

What attracted you to this project?

As I said, I can carry off both an Indian and Western look well that not every actress can do. Also, the show has a very nice and promising storyline. It is both funny and serious; it is something that people may connect to. Married women will really identify with it as Simran who has a very sweet father, will be now having a very strict father-in-law. Many newly married women may be able to connect with that.

This show is based in Haryana. Will you be speaking in the Haryanvi language?

To start off, I will be speaking in English. Maybe, Simran will pick up the Haryanvi dialect later.

What will Rajveer do to make Simran feel at home in his place?
It’s not just Simran who is trying to adjust in the family. Even the boy Rajveer is attempting to fine-tune. That is all what the show is about.

What makes both of them fall in love?

I think that both find something interesting about one another. And that is why both of them fall in love; after all, love is blind. Often you cannot come with a particular reason as to why that happened. You often can’t decide who to fall in love with…. it just happens.

Kaisa Ye Ishq….Ajab Sa Risk Hai has been shot in Singapore and India. Why are so many shows being shot on foreign shores nowadays?

I think that is an eventual progression that television is making. There are so many channels that we have to stand out in competition. Nowadays TV channels have higher budgets and hence have the money to shoot on foreign shores.

Tell us a few words about your co-star Gaurav S Bajaj?

Gaurav is a great guy. We have a good chemistry amongst ourselves. He is a good co-actor.

Kaisa Ye Ishq….Ajab Sa Risk Hai is about how liberal big city ideologies blend with small town traditions. Many shows like this are cropping up now. Is this to target both the city and rural crowd?

Certainly, also these shows are quite educative. Rural people may find city folks queer and vice versa. In villages, people may look at city people in a baffled way while city folks may look on at them strangely. So, a show like this strikes a chord for both.

Are you similar to Simran, the character you are playing?

I do dress like her but I do not have any other similarity though. I do not think I would relocate to a rural place to educate people like her. I agree that it is a good thought but not something that I would like to do. I do not think that is practical. Secondly, I would like a nice married life and would not like to struggle with my in-laws.

So, you do agree that your show is showing something that isn’t practical?

It may not be practical for Sukirti, but it is practical for Simran. I have many modern and educated friends who are staying in very interior places after marriage. It is after all a personal choice. It is just like you may like ice-cream and someone else may not.

Are you open to doing reality shows?

I do not mind doing a dance reality show.

Would you like to be a part of Bollywood?

I am not dreaming about Bollywood as of now but if I get a role in a film, I am open to doing it. I am not obsessed with the idea of being a part of Bollywood.

So, you are happy with television?

Yes, I am happy with television. Television, today, isn’t just bread and butter; it is wine and cheese. TV actors are very well paid, happy and go abroad to spend their holidays. I do not just like TV, I love it.