Comedy is a big challenge for me: Aroona Irani

Aroona Irani is one of the few actor-producers who understood the pulse and importance of television and the right time. Her success story on the small screen as producer of shows like Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, Mehndi Tere Naam Ki and Doli Sajake Rakhna or as an actress is truly commendable. The multifaceted star-actress is back again on the small screen playing mother to Iqbal Khan’s ‘Rudra’ in Deeya and Tony Singh’s Sangini. TellyChakkar caught up with her. What made you accept this role? This is my first show with Deeya and Tony Singh. Zee approached me first and then Tony, Deeya and I met to discuss the role. The newness of this show is the way romance has been portrayed. I feel a unique thing about this show is the fact that all the characters in love with each other are highly egoistic. And, unfortunately, their ego, which sometimes reaches childish proportions, comes between their love and they suffer. Tell us something about your character. I am playing the mother of Rudra (Iqbal Khan). Every step she takes in life is calculated and pre-planned. For her, profit is of paramount importance as she hails from a business family. She is also very manipulative and tries to use her husband for her benefit. For her, even Rudra’s marriage is a business proposition which she will control to extract maximum benefit. How does it feel working with a new cast? The cast is new and unique. Iqbal is returning to television with this show, so naturally there is a lot of hype surrounding that. Iqbal has a very difficult character to play and is giving his best to do justice to Rudra. On the other hand, both Binny, whom I have seen in Dance India Dance, and Additi are very hardworking. Binny is a great dancer and I used to like her a lot in DID. She is very strong when it comes to expressions. Being a dancer myself I know it comes naturally to us! I feel the trio will create a new popular team on Indian television. Over the past many decades you have played roles covering the entire spectrum of characters. Is there any specific role that you feel you have not played and would like to do it now? I have mostly done characters with grey shades in my career in both films and television. I have also done few comic roles with an element of negativity in them. Now I would like to do more of comedy. Comedy is a big challenge for me. I am really fond of shows on SAB. You have had a long association with Zee… I started my career in television with them. When I first did the pilot of Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, I had approached Sahara and Star. Unfortunately no one liked the concept. Then I met Satish Menon from Zee at a party and he asked me to narrate the concept in a few lines. He liked it and asked me to go ahead with the pilot. I feel Zee has always encouraged me to be a good producer with a focus on quality. You have given faces like Sangeeta Ghosh and established Sayantani Ghosh in the industry. What is your opinion about so many new faces being launched on Indian television today? It's always a nice experience to make shows with new faces. For example, my eyes are very expressive and I use them during acting. Everyone knows that and probably has got used to it. But when viewers see a new face they don't have any expectations and this creates a certain amount of inquisitiveness amongst the audience. More importantly, newcomers are ready to learn and you can always groom them. So I am very open to casting and working with newcomers. In the last few years we have not seen you in the big screen. Any particular reason? Where are the roles for actresses like me in films today? I have done many significant and memorable roles in films, why should I settle for less? None of my contemporaries are doing films either. Just for the sake of a few scenes we would not agree to do an insignificant role. Do you miss your old days? Not really. I am very satisfied and content. God has been very kind to me. I had to undergo a lot of struggle and now I have fame, money and respect and have no regrets. I cherish every day in life. You look so fit even at this age. What is the secret of this? (Smiles) There is no secret. It is just hard work! I usually have one big meal in a day. My day starts with one biscuit and a cup of tea after which I have a glass of juice. My lunch consists of rotis, one vegetable and a non-vegetarian dish. In the evening I have a glass of gourd juice and at night I have one fruit with a glass of milk. I also do Pranayam and yoga regularly. I make it a point to walk for one hour in the evening even when I am shooting. When will we see you back as a producer? I am taking a break now as a maker! So for another seven-eight months, do not expect anything from me as a producer. I want to enjoy my role in Sangini.