'I never thought Baa would become so popular!'

Veteran actress Sudha Shivpuri, known for her role as Baa on Ekta Kapoor's hugely popular telly soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, passed away, on May 20 in Mumbai. She was 77.

We reproduce here, an interview with the veteran actress, published in January 2008.

Sudha Shivpuri started her career at an age when most people retire.

Her character Baa in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is such a favourite among viewers that even at 106, no one wants the character to die!

Rediff contributor Rajul Hegde caught up with the 70-year-old actress in her Andheri home, situated in the Western suburb of Mumbai, for more dope.

How did you get the role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi?

My husband (actor Om Shivpuri) passed away 18 years ago. After my children grew up, I had nothing to do at home.

I am from a theatre background (I've graduated from the National School of Drama, Delhi) and have done films and television before. When I told my children about me acting again, they were not happy because I was 60 years old.

I started working for a serial Bandan for Balaji telefilms. Ekta Kapoor asked me whether I would be interested in a dadi (grandmother) role in her new serial (Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi). I agreed. Ekta knew my work, so there was no audition.

I can relate to Baa's character. I am like her even in real life.

Did you have to work hard to portray Baa, or did it come naturally?

You have to do homework to portray any character. I went to a temple and observed how Gujarati ladies speak and behave, to get into my character. I have some experience from my previous roles too.

How do you mange with the long working hours?

I enjoy it because there are so many people on the sets. If I am not working, I get bored sitting at home.

Did you ever think Baa would become so popular?

No, I never thought it would be so popular! I thought it would be like any other dadi role. All credit goes to Ekta Kapoor and the writers who has made the character so beautiful and popular. And my hard work.

How does it feel to be the most loved character on Kyunki?

I love it. Just imagine! I started working after 60 years, and my character has become so popular. Whatever I am today is because of the public and God.

What is your equation with Ekta Kapoor, Smriti Irani and Apara Mehta?

I am comfortable with all the actors on the sets. Yes, I am close to Smriti and Apara because of the long-term association. I have been working with them for the last eight years.

They're not in the serial any more, but I'm still in contact with them. We don't have any ego problems so we always gave suggestions when we are acting.

Ekta is very sweet. We are friends. But we keep our personal and professional lives separate.

What's the best part about the series?

I like everything about it. The serial has so many good things. For example, there is so much unity even when the Viranis were poor.

Your character seems to be ageless.

Baa is 106 years old.

But I'm not tired of doing the role, or else I would not be doing it for so long. There are so many changes in the serial like generation leaps and new characters.

After doing this role for so long, I feel like I'm the real Baa of the Viranis! I enjoy this role. I hope my character doesn't come to an end.

But before the first generation leap, Ekta Kapoor had said that Tulsi would play the new Baa, and your character would be out.

I heard about that too. But they did public voting, and 99 percent of people said that they wanted Baa to remain in the serial, even if she was 400 years old!

Only one percent said, 'Why is this old lady still there? Why can't she die in the serial?

Ekta loves Baa too. Now, she doesn't want her to be out of the show either.

Any pressure on you, since your character is so popular?

There is so much pressure! I am more comfortable in a salwar kameez but when I go out, people want to see me in saris, dressed like Baa! They request me to wear saris. Some people even call me Baa.

When I went to Ahmedabad and Haridwar, people touched my feet! They asked me to bless them, including some people who were older than me. I bless them because they feel happy. They relate me to my character Baa, and don't bother about my age.

How has Kyunki changed your life?

When I was not doing Kyunki, nobody recognised me. But now, people recognise me and call me Baa. That makes me happy.

But I avoid crowded places because I get claustrophobic. I hardly go out in Mumbai.

You did the Urmila Matondkar-starrer, Pinjar. Are you looking at films too?

Yes, I played Dina Pathak's sister in Pinjar.

Films don't have interesting roles for me. People would offer me a role where there were hardly any dialogues. So I didn't do films after Pinjar. I prefer doing a five-minute role, which gets noticed, rather than standing as a prop in the film.

Tell us about your early days.

My father passed away when I was in the eighth standard. My mother had fallen ill. Due to financial poblems, I started acting in plays. I joined as a radio artist. The first salary I got was Rs 150. I met Om Shivpuri here.

Later, we joined the National School of Drama, Delhi. We got married in 1968, and continued to work in theatre. We formed a theatre company called Dishantar, which produced several important plays of its time, like Aadhe Adhurey, Tughlaq and Khamoshi.

After few years, my husband got film offers. So we shifted to Mumbai. After coming to Mumbai, I did 12 films, including Swami, Hamari Bahu Alka, Vidhata and The Burning Train. I stopped working for films because I wanted to spend some time with my children. I did some television for a while.

After my husband's death, and after my children grew up, I decided to return to televsion. I was 60 when I did Bandhan. I was 62 when I got Kyunki.

Nowadays, I work 30 days a month, doing three shows for Balaji (Kyunki, Karam Apna Apna and Kaho Na Kaho on 9x).