'I plan to be around for a long time'

New role

She has acted on the stage and in films, has featured in several advertisements and has done many corporate shows, but for the first time Tisca Chopra became the face of a radio campaign ‘Spell Bee’ on 92.7 BIG FM. Even though the medium is new, the actress feels it is an extension of her growing up years. “I grew up in a family of educationists. So, I have seen the other side,” she tells Metrolife.

The show is a spelling competition where kids between six to 12 years with good aptitude and intelligence quotient compete against each other for the correct spellings of the words. “I am an English literature student and I feel disheartened when I see how we have massacred this language by texting in SMS language,” says Chopra who won
Stardust Best Supporting Actress Award for Taare Zameen Par.

The 42-year-old actress made her Bollywood debut in 1993 with Platform opposite Ajay Devgn but since then she has cautiously treaded film journey and has been selective about her work. “Everything depends on how you see yourself in life. I have been extremely selective and people do ask me why I am not doing more work. But I have always concentrated on doing selective work because I plan to be around for a long time. I have no intention of running quickly and then vanishing,” she adds.

She points out that the show isn’t only about spelling, but offers a holistic viewpoint of how to deal with everyday challenges parents and students face in real life, especially during exams. “People do associate me as the strong mother of Taare Zameen Par and that works out as an advantage.”

Chopra also feels that it is a great time to be in showbiz because web watching has opened doors for creative talent. “Many things are happening and evolving at a speed which is hard to imagine. People are shifting from television to web and it is becoming a great medium for those who have creative ideas,” she says.

“So there is no dearth of opportunity in today’s time for talent,” she adds.
Chopra’s radiant persona often belies her age and in the graceful way she carries herself has become a trademark of her style.

According to her she prefers comfortable clothing over what is in vogue. “I prefer to wear light and comfortable clothes since I have to run around my three-year-old (kid). I also drink loads of water to be hydrated and try to exercise and do yoga regularly,” she says.