'Bollywood is not lenient towards actresses'

After theatre and modelling, Shivani is all set for a long inning in tinsel town

A commercial for a contraceptive pill made Shivani Tanksale a well-known face on television. She may have been new for millions of small screen audiences but for many theatre artists she was a recognisable face, which needed no introduction.

Shivani, who has been associated with theatre since college days and has worked with artistes like Naseeruddin Shah and Nadira Babbar, has recently been seen in The Dirty Picture and Talaash.

Cameo performances they may have been but Shivani doesn’t repent playing those characters. “I don’t believe in doing big roles in small films. It was a right decision to a small role in a multi-starrer because it makes you visible on screen,” says Shivani, in a candid chat with Metrolife.

Shivani, who is busy in promoting her latest film Shree opposite Hussain Kuwajerwala, has no hesitation in sharing that industry’s attitude towards actresses has played a crucial role in her decision for opting for small roles in these movies.

 “As you know, the industry is not lenient towards actresses as they grow old. Your good looks obviously put you in another camp of lead heroines.

For me, it was important to enter Bollywood at the right age so that I could get an opportunity to prove myself in the coming years,” says Shivani, who has already a mark with her acting skills in theatre and advertisement industry.

Being a theatre artist since her college days, Shivani has also directed a couple of plays too. “I started directing my own plays in 2007 with an Urdu play titled Namak Mirch. Thankfully, it did well.

Thereafter, I directed two plays for kids which were really appreciated,” shares the Mumbai-based Shivani. She excels not only in acting but has also composed original songs for plays and learnt malkhamb to add newness to stage performances. “I simply tried to incorporate a new element in theatre, making it an interesting watch.”

What made her shift from theatre to modeling? “It was a conscious move to enter the ad world. I wanted to do something other than television serials.” So, why a big ‘no’ to daily soaps? “There is no freshness to your character in serials since everything is repetitive. I was never keen
on television.”