Taking on social issues

telly talk

In the history of Indian television, few shows have sustained a long screen time. Apart from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, the only show with seven years of running time is Colors’s daily soap, Balika Vadhu. The now longest-running Hindi serial is based on the superstitions of child marriage.

The child protagonists of the show who started seven years ago — Avika Gor and Avinash Mukherjee — are now adults, taking on other roles on the small screen. The lead actress who plays Anandi is Toral Rasputra, and has replaced Pratyusha Banerjee. After a 11-year leap in the story, it’s not only Anandi’s story now, but also her daughter Nimboli’s (played by child actor Gracy Goswami) journey of child marriage and dealings with her evil in-laws. Whether she meets her mother Anandi is for viewers to wait and discover.

Talking about her journey, Toral chimes, “It’s an honour for me to be a part of this cult show. Playing Anandi is a dream come true. It has been a great learning experience, especially to share scenes with veteran actress Sulekha Sikhri. On my first day with her on the set, I was literally shivering. She calmed me down with her caring attitude. Also, it’s impressive that she can come up with a minimum of three variations for a scene.”

Toral, who has four other serials to her acting credit, understands that actors come and go. However, the strong content of Balika Vadhu is what drives home a point. “Initially, the burden on my shoulders was to fill in the shoes of the much-liked, well-established character played by Pratyusha. Going to shoot every morning was like going to war. With time, the audience liked me,” she adds.

The married actress prefers to remain a private person off screen, “which often comes across as arrogance.” But she is not. Here is what she wishes to share... “I stay in Matunga (downtown Mumbai) and travel three hours daily to reach the set. I have a helpful family. When I am not working, I spend time with my family, and sleep for a recharge. Shopping and watching films are my favourite pastimes.”

On the other hand, 11-year-old Gracy Goswami plays the child-bride whose future is almost in jeopardy. The Baroda girl was picked from the reality show, India’s Best Dramebaaz. She has recently appeared in Bandhan. Gracy asserts that she doesn’t like the idea of child marriages. “I watched Balika Vadhu with my mother and was surprised to see young girls in this situation. I think parents should first provide their kids education, help them build their careers and then think about marriage,” says the child actor who has been mentored to deliver her dialogues in Rajasthani dialect.

Gracy, who has moved from Baroda to Mumbai, says that she studies during the shooting breaks. “I either solve old question papers or revise a subject. Daddy (a dance teacher, who is into event management) helps me with Science and Maths. My mother (an arts teacher and a choreographer) helps me with other subjects.” To observe how the 11-year story leaps and the change of cast affects Balika Vadhu’s TRPs would be interesting.