The saas-bahu serials seem to have had their run. Channels today are more willing to experiment with various genres, with the established and new artistes. One such show is 'Salaam Zindagi', on Sony Television. Rumours are that this show will evoke memories of 'Udaan'. We chat with lead actor Pariva Pranati.

Q. You are going to play a police officer in the show. How excited are you?
A. Very. Nobody has played a serious police officer in a long time. The story revolves around the working woman, a woman who did not want to become a police officer, but has to. It is about how she deals with the difficulties later.

Q. The character you are playing wants to be a dancer actually, but becomes a police officer to fulfil her grandfather's dreams. Does she like the profession?
A. It is not about liking or not liking the profession. All the male members of the family have been in the Police force. For her, her grandfather's dream is more important her own dream. This decision has not been forced on her.

Q. How did you prepare for this role?
A. I did not have much time to prepare, but from the time I was offered this role, I started observing police officers. Recently, when I was at the airport, I saw a female officer, and I was watching her stance, and how she goes about checking people, how she speaks with the people, etc.

Also, the channel has spoken with me in detail about the role.

Q. Have you seen 'Udaan'? It was on air many years ago.
A. I have, but I was very young then.

Q. On television, it was Kavita Chaudhary, and in real life it is Kiran Bedi – the women who are synonymous with women police officers. How much have these two women inspired you?
A. True. Even kids know Kiran Bedi, and I admire her. I never thought I would ever play someone like her. I would like to tell her that I will do my best to do justice to the character.

Q. How were you selected for this character?
A. I gave an audition, and I was selected. The character is a small and delicate girl, who goes to the Police Academy. Many people make fun of her, but she goes on to win everybody's heart.

Q. Tell us something about your co-star Abhay.
A. Abhay is a great co-star. We do a lot of masti on the sets. The Academy has been shot, so there are a lot of people. Many of them are young and so the environment on the sets is a lot of fun. It gets difficult for the director to control us sometimes.

Q. What was your ambition in real life?
A. (laughs) I was confused about my career. After every two months I wanted to be something new. I wanted to do a lot of things, so I became an actor. With this profession I can be all the things I want to.

Q. What is your opinion of women who manage to actually achieve something in their life?
A. Women are treated as a weaker sex in this man's world. When women started in the defence and other men-related jobs, nobody thought they would last too long. However, women proved them wrong.

The difference between now and then is that today, women can do the same things that men can, but they do it willingly, and not out of some compulsion.

Q. What other show are you doing?
A. I was doing 'Viruddh', but right now, I am busy with this one. I cannot do any other shows, although I don't know where my track in 'Viruddh' is going, and how much time I have to give them.

Q. What are your future plans?
A. (laughing) I don't make future plans. -Rajnee Gupta