Why did you agree to be a judge in the show Comedy Ka King Kaun?

I am a big fan of comedy and though I was glad that Sony had approached me to be a part of their comedy show Comedy Ka King Kaun, I made it a point to ask them in what way was their format different from the usual run-of-the mill comedy formats these days. I agreed to be part of the show when I was told that it was indeed a different show with a different format and concept

In what way is the show different?

The many rounds in the show are different, not just the stand up ones. In fact they are quite tough and strictly on the edge. All the participants are analysed critically and it is like sending all of them back to kindergarten
How tough is it to be a judge in a comedy reality show for an actor like you who has a serious image?
 I agree that I have this image of being a very intense and serious actress, thanks to some of the roles that I have played in films as well as the TV serial Kadam. I could be intense in my comedy roles too. I try all the time to be fair to myself as an actor. Jaspal Bhatti has been in the business of comedy for a long period of time and I also have been doing comedy for some time. I think it is in the fitness of things that the show has Bhatti and me as the judges.

How do you plan to delineate your role in the show?

To be a good judge in a reality show like this, you have got to be a very good observant. I make it a point to come with a clean slate because I know that I have to be fair. I laugh more whereas Bhatti has a poker face.
Though we both have our own different points of view, we agree mostly on the basic points. Bhatti and I will function like the parents in a family when we deal with the participants.

Is it for the first time that you are a judge in a reality show?

It is not for the first time that I have been roped in as a judge in a show. Earlier, I was one of the judges in the Zee talent hunt show to discover new faces. It was a cake walk when you compare it with my role as a judge in Comedy Ka King Kaun. Had I known that it would be such a tough job; I would have charged Sony much more.

Do you watch comedy serials?

I make it a point to sit at home and watch some of the comedy serials as and when I get time from my hectic shooting schedules these days. I love Sarabai V/s Sarabai. I watch that to drive my blues away.

Do you think it is easy to make people laugh?
To make people laugh is indeed a knack. I am balancing my act with both kinds of films- intense as well as comic. If I played a hyper character at loggerheads all the time with her husband in the recently released U, Me Aur Hum, in Shyam Benegal’s Mahadeo Ka sajjanpur, you will get to watch me in a frothy comedy role.

Kadam is the only TV serial in which you have acted. Why?

I am glad that I agreed to be a part of the series Kadam which enabled me to show my prowess as a versatile actor. If you see my career graph, you will realise that as an actor, I need to be kicked and do different kinds of roles to get a high. I do what is good to me and hence enjoy what I do. Like Kadam. I think no other actor has been able to get to tackle a wide variety of roles on television like I have been able to.

Why do you shy away from  TV serials?

I do not want to take up assignments for acting in TV serials for the simple reason that I do not want to be bogged down with a shooting schedule which will not give me quality time for films, especially since I am having quite a few films on hand.
My aim is to be remembered for whatever I do, whether on TV or in films.

Do you think that you have been short changed by the film industry?

I do not think that I have been short changed as actress by the film industry. In this industry, people’s perceptions change when you are seen in a big film made by a big banner and directed by a big director.
Though I did play some of the most challenging roles of my career in Kadam, the bitter truth is that TV gives you a short lived memory. People’s perceptions about me changed when I got Veer Zaara and people sat up and took note of the fact that I can prove to be a dependable actress.