by Subhash K Jha
Even at her prime 40 years ago when she was branded the 'Jubilee Queen' Asha Parekh did three feature films in her mother tongue.

"And now I'm returning to my Gujarati roots," smiles Asha Parekh. "The Gujarati serial Akhanda Saubhagyavati which I've produced is on ETV Gujarati. It's a proud moment for me. I've always felt my work and my art should keep me close to my roots.

"There's a myth that actors do regional films only when they're on the way up or way out. That's such a parochial attitude. Latabai who's our greatest, has sung in so many Indian languages. If Lata can do it, why not Asha?" she jokes. And reveals how even at the peak of her career she acted in three Gujarati films.

"My first Gujarati film, coincidentally called Akhanda Saubhagyavati was a smash success. That was forty years ago when I was really busy with my Hindi-film career. Not once did I think I was going to compromise my career by doing a film in my own language."

Akhand Saubhagyavati is the third Gujarati serial produced by Asha Parekh. "I had produced Jyoti for Doordarshan which was a kind of landmark for regional television. Then I did Nari Tu Na Hari for ETV Gujarati...And now I'm back with a new daily."

Asha neither directs nor acts in her new serial. She's also going full-steam ahead with plans to make a Hindi serial with an army background for a major channel.

"But right now it's my Gujarati serial which excites me. Earlier we made the mistake of undermining television as a medium.

"Today we're making the same mstake by undermining regional cinema and television. Look at the reach of Bhojpuri, Bengali and Tamil cinema. TV too is has a niche significance.There's room for programming in every genre and language. The sooner we realize it the better."