'You need to be extremely lucky to get into movies'

Zee TV's new show Badalte Rishton Ki Daastan is the story of two women with contrasting characters and backgrounds who unite to challenge patriarchal family structures and male authority.  

Produced by Ravi Ojha, Badalte...is the remake of the popular Bengali show, Khela, which was aired about a decade ago. The show features Kiran Karmarkar, Addit Gupta, Abhinav Shukla and Mona Ambegaonkar.

Sanjeeda Sheikh, who was last seen in Piya Ka Ghar Pyara Lage, plays a leading role in this family drama.

She had won the popular celebrity dance show Nach Baliye 3, with her television actor husband Aamir Ali.

Here, she talks to Rajul Hegde about her role in the new serial which begins today, March 18, at 10 pm on Zee TV. 

What is your character Meera like in the serial?

My character is a very strong-headed and free-spirited, independent girl. She appears to be tough and strong, but she is actually vulnerable, insecure and emotional. She is constantly in search of something. To display both the contrasting emotions was a difficult task.

What made you take up this show?

At this stage of my career, it is important for me to work with good people. I have never played this kind of role before.

I have heard a lot about Ravi Ojha Productions who made a brilliant show like Sasural Genda Phool. I am extremely happy to work with such a brilliant maker. The scenes are very well written and I can feel the pain of Meera.

Our director Rakesh Kumar is brilliant. As a director, he knows how much effort an actor can put into his/her work. This kind of rapport is very necessary.  

Badalte Rishton ki Daastan has enough masala to keep audiences hooked from day one. It is a hardcore family drama. Even the earlier show (Khela) was quite ahead of its times.

Is your wardrobe from your personal collection?

They are really working hard on my wardrobe. You will see me wearing boots, shrugs and stoles.

I was taken to different brands and selected everything myself. We generally don't get an opportunity to do so in television. Of course, they have a stylist but they took my opinion too.

How was it working with Additi Gupta, another protagonist in the show?

I have done Zara Nach Ke Dikha (a reality show) with Additi where we rehearsed together for four months. So, I know her very well. I was happy when they cast her for this show.

We are actually like hero-heroine in the show (laughs). We have to do a lot of scenes together. If two actors have a good rapport, then the chemistry will eventually come out very beautifully on-screen.

So how was it shooting outdoors?

Most locations are usually in and around Mumbai or some studio, but here I got to visit a lot of amazing places.

We have shot scenic locales of Rishikesh and Dhanaulti. It was fun shooting in the snow.

How has life changed post marriage?

Oh it's beautiful! Don't I look happy? We just completed a year. Aamir keeps surprising me all the time. In fact, when he proposed, I didn't have any clue. I was in my track pants after a lengthy session at the dance class when he invited me for dinner. He went down on one knee and asked me to marry him!

As such nothing much has changed after marriage. I wish we could have married two years ago. I am happy and content in my marriage.  

He is so good with surprises. He invited 50 friends of mine on my birthday. I didn't even know about it. I was casually dressed, so my first reaction when I entered the room was 'oh my god, everyone is better dressed than I!' 

Any plans to be a part of movies? 

I have no godfather in the industry. I have stopped thinking about films. Right now I am very happy doing some great projects for television.

You need to be extremely lucky to get into movies and then hard work follows. It's my dream job to be an assistant director. Though I keep changing my mind about my profession, I want to do everything.