With TAM ratings coming in every week, every actor today has a week-long life: Shama Deshpande

Shama Deshpande, better known as RK’s mother Radha in Colors’ Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, is one actress who has seen the glamour industry in and out being the daughter of yesteryear Marathi superstar Raja Gosavi who breathed his last on 28 February, 1988. Therefore, playing a mother to a superstar on TV comes pretty naturally to her. In a freewheeling chat with Tellychakkar.com, the senior actress talks about her childhood, youth, life and more. Have you been happy with your journey in Madhubala so far? I joined Madhubala at a time when it was already established, but I took it up as I had a very powerful role to essay. I am happy to be a part of the project as it’s one of the most realistic shows on TV. How is it playing a mother to a superstar on-screen when you’ve almost lived most of your life as a superstar’s daughter in real life? It is an added advantage as the atmosphere and experience is not new. Did you like being called a superstar’s daughter as a kid? In the 60-70s, when my father was a superstar of the Marathi film industry, we received a very different treatment. It wasn’t the one that heroes and heroines or their kids get these days. Every time I would go to a friend’s place, their parents would look at me saying she is an actor’s daughter. Moreover since, my father was a star, gossips were written about him and he was often linked to his co-stars. Thus, we grew up hearing such kind of stories. Did such stories keep you away from the entertainment business as a kid? Not at all, in fact I spent most of my time in theater. I loved to watch performances and the artistes applying make-up. When and how did you land into acting? I wasn’t supposed to be getting into acting as my father did not suggest that. He knew how things worked in the trade and just wanted me to complete my studies and get married. Though, I did shoot for a film (Asla Navra Nako Ga Bai) with him in which I played the role of the heroine’s friend. Since my father was a star and he could have easily got me a heroine’s role, but he wanted me to climb the stairs on my own. But then I couldn’t take the struggle for too long; may be because I was too impatient. I wanted things to happen too fast for me. Which means you got back to acting after a break? Yes, the circumstances were such that I had to get back in the industry. We were facing a financial crunch and the only job that I knew better than anything else was acting. So, I got back and there has been no looking back since then. Do you ever feel bad about the fact that you could not be in league of A-listers? The industry has been appreciating my work and I have been getting work; hence there are no qualms. Superstars keep changing with every generation. Hence, I am content with where I am. How supportive has your actor husband (actor Sai Balla) been of you? He is a very understanding person. We know how to deal with each other and more than that, we respect each other. We correct each other and discuss work when needed. What do you think of today’s generation of actors? Compared to the olden days, the pressure on them is more. Then, we had it all easy as we did not work 12 hours each day for 30 days. Especially, the pressure on the main leads is terrific. There is a reason why they react in a particular manner these days; that’s not an attitude but the pressure that comes across. With the TAM ratings coming in one week after another, today every actor has a week-long life.