JOIN USEverything that has happened in my life was unexpected, starting from my premature birth,” says Jayati Bhatia introspecting onher life and acting career, that was equally unforeseen.
Bhatia says she opted for Odissi classes at Shri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra only because it was near her college. She feels lucky to have been trained in acting under Ebrahim Alkazi.
“That time Mr Alkazi had come back to India after 14 years and it was my destiny to have got a chance to be his student. Infact, I was disqualified in the audition because he thought that I was more of a dancer and had no interest in acting. Then Zora Segal told him ‘I am also a dancer and an actress too. It is this girl’s discipline in dance that will make her excel in acting’.” Years have passed and the veteran'’s words have stood the test of time.
Having portrayed varied characters on screen, Bhatia is probably the only actress whose transition from playing a daughter (in Kanyadaan) to a grandmother (in Sasural Simar Ka) has happened quite fast on television.
“I accepted the offer because the character is very progressive. Even though we have received a lot of flak from people, the audience has loved us. That is the reason the show has successfully completed a 1000 episodes,” she says, emphasising that “audience is the king”.
Recalling her dance moves in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 5, it is difficult to believe that she is so active off screen. Bhatia, however, gives the credit to her “17 years of training in classical dance.”
“People say that after gaining experience, you can sleep through a part. But I have never done that. Even today, if I have to do an emotional scene, I don’t use glycerine because I live the character that I play.” No wonder the impact that she leaves is astounding – be it
on screen or on the stage.
Yet she admits that even after all the hard work she has always fallen short of a step to victory. “You see, I have not been at my manipulative best," she says laughing about her being ‘pre-historic’ and unable to strategise. “But I have become smarter now. Jhalak... made me understand what this competitive world is all about.”
“My theatre gives me satisfaction,” she says just like her contemporaries and gets miffed at the question if she is ‘trying in films’.
“Who doesn’t try for films. I have shown my keenness, may be the directors haven’t found a role suitable for me. If Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali has sent Sonam (Kapoor) and Deepika (Padukone) to me to get trained and I have been approached to do a voice-over in Barfi! in the past, then what else should I say. I will wait and I’m sure things will happen to me also!”