Neena plays her first 'Marathi' role in Hindi

Neena Kulkarni has been a known name in the Hindi and Marathi film and TV industries for a long time now. With Thoda Hai Bas Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai being a hit on Indian television, she seems to have gained the same popularity amongst the national audience as well. Interestingly, this is the first time she is playing a role of a Maharastrian in a serial. Kulkarni smiles, “I have played a daadi from UP in Hindi Hain Hum and a Gujarati character in Ek Packet Umeed but this is the first time I am playing a Marathi character in a serial that talks about a Maharastrian family." This is also the first time that the much-acclaimed actress is working with Rose Movies. "I am from Mahim, which is not too far from Shivaji Park, where this show is based. So I have seen this type of family and their problems quite closely. My character in this show is very real -- she is neither too goody goody nor too harsh. She is a normal mother-in-law who has a beautiful relationship with her elder daughter-in-law in the family. She genuinely depends on her daughter-in-law and also works in a papad factory to raise money for her family." Kulkarni who has been brought up in a nuclear family believes in this concept. "I am very close to my grandparents though they lived in a different place. My parents were doctors so I come from a different family background altogether. Life is so fast now that the joint family concept is losing its charm. But I feel in joint families, people learn to adjust very fast. I am intolerant because I was brought up in a nuclear family," says the actress. The actress also feels since last year the Indian television industry has taken a major positive turn. "Though I have not watched too many serials on a regular basis, I have seen many talented actors come up. I love Ratan Rajput and Ragini Khanna. Shows like Balika Vadhu, Sasural Genda Phool are amazing in terms of the quality of script and direction. Pavitra Rishta again caters to a lower middle-class Marathi family which is mostly seen in a chawl.”