We compromise on our roles on TV because of TRPs: Geetashree Roy

Kolkata: Actress Geetashree Roy says that television actresses do want to essay different characters, but owing to TRPs, they end up playing the role of a bahu.

When asked to share her opinion on heroines who are seen as football players, doctors, or NGO workers before marriage and as bahus post marriage, Geetashree said to TellyChakkar, ‘As an actor, if you don’t explore different characters, you don’t grow. But somehow, I think the (TV) audience loves watching heroines in the simple look of a bahu with Shakha, Pola, and Sindoor’ (symbols of Hindu Bengali married women).

The actress further added, ‘We have seen TRPs getting high when there is a wedding in the show. So, after marriage, the look of the heroines also gets changed. Writers do want to portray heroines in different roles and we too want to play different roles, but because of TRPs, we compromise.’

So, Geetashree was happy that for the first time, a different character came her way via Jamai Raja on Zee Bangla. She was seen as an IPS officer in the show. However, there were challenges while playing this character.

She shared, ‘Bharat da (Kaul) called me and said that the serial was getting relaunched with a new name, Ashadhyo Sadhon. Ishaan (Arjun Chakrabarty) was shown as a detective, and an IPS officer was introduced, which was played by me. From a family drama, it became a detective series. You know well that so far, I have played only simple roles of a bahu. With this show, I got to try a different look, different attire, and carry a different attitude. The challenge was whether or not the audience will accept me in that role because after watching me in Rashi, it was difficult for them to see me as an IPS officer...maybe I have transformed or I have changed a bit, that’s why the makers approached me for this role. I said yes to the show because I thought it was a challenge for me and it will make the show makers consider me for other roles as well.’

The show did not continue for long post the storyline transformation though. ‘Actually, when I was offered the role, I was told that it’s (a contract) for six months and the show lasted for five or five and a half months.’

Previously, Geetashree played lead roles in soaps like Rashi and Devi Pokkho. She also played the female protagonist in ZBC original feature film Shei Meyeta. Her last serial was Jamai Raja, and she is yet to sign her next project.