Saakshi Tanwar

Another ideal bahu in a joint family who makes wrongdoers realise the futility of their negativism. In a role that most Indian women can relate to, Saakshi plays the level-headed and affectionate Parvati in the hit soap Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki.

A former software consultant, Saakshi graduated from New Delhi. While she was preparing for entrance tests to the administrative services and mass communications, she auditioned and was selected for Doordarshan's Albela Sur Mela.

"I did that just for pocket money," she says. "Slowly, it became my passion." Serials like Ehsaas, Dastoor, X Zone and Bhanwar followed, before she got her first big break to play the central role in Rajdhani. Then came the offer from Balaji Telefilms for Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki.

Initially, she was apprehensive about the role but Ekta Kapoor persuaded her, saying, "This role will create waves in Indian television." It did.

Ask what makes her character tick, she says, "Initially, I could not identify with my role. Then I started realising that such Parvatis exist. The power of television is immense and far-reaching. Indians are very emotional. Crying makes them happy. They identified with my character. Of late, I am really enjoying the character. The fact that Parvati has decided not take things lying down and adopt a tit-for-tat policy sets my adrenaline flowing. A fighting attitude in a bahu is required today."

Saakshi recently bagged the central role in Devi, produced by Ajay Devgan's company, marking the Devgans' foray into television. Directed by Anant Mahadevan (A Mouthful of Sky, Darpan), Devi is the story of Gayatri who, for some reason, is destined to die at the hands of her husband, Vikram (Mohnish Behl).

Gayatri has immense faith that Goddess Durga will rescue her. Whether her belief comes true or not forms the story.

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