Exclusive! I was a fortunate child; I am grateful that I didn't have to struggle: Anita Raaj

MUMBAI: Talented actress Anita Raaj has been entertaining masses with her power-packed performances for decades now. She is currently part of Colors’ popular show Choti Sardarni.

TellyChakkar got in touch with Anita, who spoke briefly about her journey, pros and cons of social media and more…

You've strived and struggled through 50 years of your career in this industry. How has your journey been? “My journey has been very smooth and I didn't have to struggle a lot. My father, Jagdish Raj was in the industry, so he helped me initially. His name is in the Guinness Book of World records for playing a police cop for the maximum number. I was a fortunate child and I have a lot of gratitude that I didn't have to struggle. I used to go for kathak classes, and in an annual function Yash Chopra came to know about me and my career started.”

(Also read: Breaking: Zebby Singh to play the male lead in Rajesh Ram Singh and Pradeep Kumar’s next on Colors?) 

Has it ever happened that you wanted to do a role but you didn't do it or you didn't want to but still did it? “My first three films revolved around my characters. I was playing a 60-year-old role when I was in my 20s. So, I've played several roles that we're very female oriented in the male dominating industry. But now the industry has changed for the good, now scripts are very meaningful and open to new ideas.”

Have you ever witnessed or experienced any gender-based inequality towards women? And did you try to bring out any change? “No, I didn't, because things changed in their own way. The graph has been changing ever since, it all depends upon the environment and audience response towards it.”

Social media is becoming a necessity for actors now to engage their audience, so what is your take on it? “It's really good that we get to interact with our audience and there's transparency between us, but then it also hampers our privacy. We as actors and influencers have to be careful about what we post, because people look up to us. Social media has its own pros and cons.”

Stay tuned for more news from the entertainment industry.

(Also read: AWW! Anita Raaj on her bond with Chhoti Sardarrni co-star Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia: She is like a daughter to me, I am very protective of her)