MUMBAI: Actress Pallavi Rao, whom we have seen in shows like Main Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki, Diya Aur Bati Hum, Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala and Shubharambh, is currently portraying the character of Mamiji in the newly launched show Pandya Store. Pallavi who hails from Uttarakhand has lived all over the country because her father was in Government service. She has also spent 27 years of her life in Ahmedabad. Speaking about her early life Pallavi says, "We were kind of settled down in Ahmedabad towards the latter part of his career. I also finished my education from this city. Finished my schooling from Kendriya Vidyalay Shahi Baugh and done my graduation from St.Xaviers. I just love being in Ahmedabad and I am very close to Gujarati culture. I consider myself as a half Gujarati. And whenever I have got Gujarati characters I have always enjoyed playing them. Somehow I feel a special connection to the place."
Interestingly Pallavi had never thought of being an actor before she moved to Mumbai. As she says," I wanted to be an air hostess, but my father was not in favor of it. Then I was appearing for civil services but that did not click. Then I came to Mumbai to study law. One of my friends asked me to get some professional photographs clicked as she felt I had a look which could work in the entertainment industry. Just for fun I clicked my pictures and gave them to a reputed production house. Within a few days, I got a call and was selected for a role. Before marriage, I was doing a little bit of work but my major breakthrough cave after my marriage when I got Shaka Laka Boom Boom. I had a very good opportunity at that time. But few things are not in our hands. At the same time, I got to know that I am expecting my first child. so I had to take a break. I could come back in some time but I decided to take a longer break and then return. While doing Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki I got a lot of confidence and that helped me in my career.
And then I did the Banjara's character in Diya Aur Bati Hum which was appreciated a lot. Then my performance in Radhika Madan's Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi was also well accepted. With every show, I was getting more and more screen space and my confidence level was going up. Then came Dhhai Kilo Prem which was in an afternoon slot, And after that, I got one of my favorite characters Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala - I can say this was the turning point of my career. After playing such a negative character in Kullfi I got a mother's role in Shubharambh which was quite surprising. I was thrilled because I was not playing a negative role. Luckily I was not typecast in negative shades and the mother's role in Shubharambh was an example of that. I had a great on and offscreen relationship with my onscreen son Akshit Sukhija. He is more like a buddy to me. I miss shooting with him." Pallavi is back to portraying the character of a Mamiji again in Pandya Store as she adds,"I am playing a Gujarati character, Prafulla Pandya. But I am known as Mamiji. I love the Gujarati culture and am enjoying every moment on the set. Mamiji is a greedy lady who wants to get hold of the Pandya Store and convert it to Prafulla Store. She can be cruel and is very unpredictable. Sometimes, I'm also surprised to see her dialogues in the script. The cast and crew of Pandya Store are very warm. A special mention must be made of Shiny Doshi. She is a wonderful co-star and is very respectful towards me. She respects her work, I love her and am very fond of her. We chat and giggle on the set. The bond is only growing. And then there are Srishti Maheshwari and Kinshuk Mahajan with whom I share a wonderful rapport. In a daily show, we are spending a lot of time on set and I believe good time with costars will only enhance our performance.
Speaking about other mediums Pallavi says, "As an actor, my acting will not change for the platform. My craft will remain the same across all the mediums, but I will not do anything which will cross my dignity and will let down my values and family’s reputation.” She signs off.
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