When I wore the same clothes for seven days and walked without slippers

Playing Laali in Aagle Janam Mein Bitiyan Hi Keejo (a show based on selling girls in India) is a big learning experience for me. When the producers (Swastik Pictures) first approached me for the role, I had just completed shooting for Radha Ki Betiyaan… and was waiting for a good role. In that way this request for an audition was God sent. However, I was also interested in taking a short one-month break, so I was in two minds whether to go for the audition or not. Finally I thought there is no harm in going for an audition and I can even ask for a break before I start work! I went for the audition and had to first undergo a number of look tests. I qualified and was then made to undergo the screen tests. Since I hailed from Patna, I guess I had an edge over others. But it was nice and challenging going through this audition. The real struggle started after I was selected. As most of you know, Laali comes from a very poor family who are professional rat killers. Since our shooting was being held at Wai and I had to look like a girl from a very poor family. I was made to move around in the same clothes for seven days, walk without slippers and so on. Though this helped in getting the real look, it was tough on me. I even had blisters on my feet and had a very dirty feeling always! But I quietly underwent all such trouble. I even visited a Santacruz chawl to study how the maids lived their lives. Rajesh Ramsingh, the director of the show has been motivating me throughout the show. After every shot I used to ask him about my quality of acting and how I could improve myself. He used to always tell me that I did not have the ‘hunger’ in my eyes – something that anyone would associate with a poor child. I asked him again how I could do that. He came up with a very interesting suggestion. He suggested that instead of my regular food I have bhakri and chawli(beans) on the sets. Initially I thought what difference it would make, since I anyways have a small frame. But it did work wonders! I used to feel very hungry and the sight of food during breaks excited me. People told me that my hunger came across even in my acting and even Rajesh ji congratulated me. On his suggestion I even started yoga something that really helped me increase my concentration and increase focus on the task at hand. My view towards poverty has also changed completely after I started working in this serial. Previously I used to get very upset everytime a beggar touched me or the food I was having. But after acting in this show I realised why a person begs for food and how someone is forced to bury all his prestige before begging. I also met Kiran Bedi during a recent trip to Delhi. She was all praise for my performance in the show. We had recently raised funds for her NGO that works against selling girl child, through our Vote for Laali campaign. She was also very happy with that.