Deepshikha has entertained the audience on the big as well as the small screen. While she has done films like ‘Koyla' and ‘Badshah', there are several TV serials to her credit too.

Deepshikha will be back on the television after a long gap with ‘Dahej' to be aired on 9X channel. We caught with her recently to know about her current activities and future plans.

Q: Tell us something about your role in your forthcoming show ‘Dahej'?
A: I am doing the character of Maya Mehta, the all in all of Mehta House, in this serial. Her personality is such that everyone is afraid of her and she too likes dominating over and controlling other people's lives.

At the same time, Maya Mehta is very status conscious and she gets anything that she wants or desires. She is a strict disciplinarian and speaks her mind with authority.

You can liken the character to a school principal, who too is strict, but you cannot term them negative people.

Q: What is the specialty of this character?
A: To tell the truth, when I was first offered the role, I found nothing special or interesting in the character. In fact, I had even turned down the role, but many people kept pursuing me to do the character.

Actually, the big boss of BAG Films Anuradha Prasad too came to me and said that they wanted me to do the role of Maya Mehta. This made me do a re-think.

Actually, later I accepted to role keeping in view the banner of Bag Films and also 9X channel.

Q: Did you have to do any changes in your look to do the role of Maya Mehta?
A: Yes, I had to. My personality and dress sense is quite different from that of the character. I wear my saree and jewelry differently. Personally, I give a lot of priority to bindi and sindoor as I consider them as women's jewelry.

As far as showing red eyes or making faces is concerned, my character doesn't have to do anything like this. I am thankful to the production house for sparing me from this.

Q: Personally, what is your opinion about 'Dahej'?
A: According to me receiving as well as giving 'dahej' are both great sins. Interestingly, not only me, but everyone in my family think this and believe in it.

Many years back, my parents got together to and made a film based on 'Dahej' titled ‘Gaya Andhera, Hua Ujala'. Imparting the best of behavior to the girls is the best 'dahej' that they can carry with them to their in-laws' place.

This has been taught to me since my childhood and I shall teach the same to my children. It is alright if any parent willingly offers 'dahej', but it is wrong to force someone to give 'dahej'.

Q: What is the reason for returning to the television after so many years?
A: There are certainly some reasons for it. First, working in daily soaps requires a lot of commitment and hard work. You have to shoot daily and this is something that is not possible for me. My last shows on television were ‘Ada' and ‘Kashmakash' for which I had to shoot for only three days a week.

At the same time, there is a melee of ‘saas-bahu' sagas these days. While I am not against these kinds of serials, I do not like them either.

I find that in the ‘saas-bahu' serials every second character is copying someone else and I detest this as I am always in favor of something new and different.

Anyways, If the character or role is not interesting, I don't like doing it. As far as accepting this role is concerned, I have already told you the reason behind it.

Q: Along with working in television, you have also worked in films. What difference do you find between the two?
A: Look for me television and cinema had no difference for me as you need to work hard to succeed in both the mediums.

However, while working for television, one has to work harder for being daily soaps, the production house's target is always to complete the shootings on time and preferably in advance. There are other differences too.

No matter how powerful you character is on the small screen, the audience will remember you only as long as you are on the screen. This does not happen in films and people remember you long after the films have moved from the theatres.

In films, people remember you by your character. I am happy that now people know me by my name.

Q: Just now you have said that one has to work extra hard for television. Now that you are again back to television, how will you make out time for films?
A: Yes, you are correct and this is why I have accepted only one show on television. So while I have to commit 15 days every month for television, I am free to do anything on the remaining days.

Q: Tell us something about your forthcoming films...
A: I am working with Shashi Ranjan in ‘Dhoom Dharaka' and with Nikhil Mathur in ‘Pranali'. ‘Dhoom Dharaka' is a comedy flick where I have done an out and out comedy role. On the other hand, ‘Pranali' is a beautiful social film.

It is based on the ‘devdasi' system and I am doing the role of a prostitute called Chanda in this film. Made by the Howard Group of companies, ‘Pranali' is a film that advocates legalizing prostitution.

Q: In addition, I think you are also acting in the film ‘Lara'. Please tell us something about this film.
A: ‘Lara' is a thriller and has an altogether different story. Here I play the role of a diamond merchant's wife who runs an advertising agency. This film is based on the relationship between a husband and his wife and I portray a character that appear strong from outside, but is fragile within. Deepak Bahari is the director of this film.

Q: The stories of the three films you are doing are different from each other. How do you feel while performing these roles?
A: (Laughing) First of all I would like to say that I am very lucky to have got so many different and good roles. Personally, I like comedy more, as I am myself very jolly by nature.

When I am in the mood for masti, I do a lot of masti and so I like doing different kinds of characters and avoid being type cast. When I return from the shooting of ‘Pranali', I feel very tired as the film and the role are both of serious nature.

The character too was very disturbing and when the shooting ended I thanked God that He has given me a good family to fall back upon. At the same time, I am happy to have done some films that people still remember today.

Like other kids, my children too like the film ‘Badshah'. It is, however, a different issue that when the film was made I was not married. (Laughing) In fact, I have told Abbas-Mastan to make a squeal to ‘Badshah'. Rajnee Gupta