It's always good to work with fresh faces : Rajita Sharma

Rajita Sharma is the writer of path-breaking shows Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. A lady with immense creativity and an eye for talent, Rajita launched her production house Magic Lantern in association with producer-director Viveck Budakoti in 2011. The first show under their banner was Ram Milaayi Jodi which went on to become a successful and also gave the world of Indian television two talented actors, Nishant Malkani and Priyal Gor. Now, Magic Lantern is all set to create waves with their latest offering on Life OK, Tum Dena Saath Mera. In an exclusive conversation with Tellychakkar.com, Rajita talks about her shows, the business of TV production and more. Excerpts: How did you come up with the concept of Tum Dena Saath Mera? One day we were brainstorming with the channel officials on a concept and while discussing we pondered over how in Mumbai people get so busy dealing with their struggles and problems, that they forget to enjoy life. They forget to enjoy subha ki chai or spending lovely moments with their family members. So we thought of a concept wherein a young couple will come down to Mumbai from their native place. The wife just wants to be with her husband whereas the husband is ambitious and wants to earn fame, success and money. The story will revolve around them and how they lose out on the happy things in life in search of material prosperity. You tend to cast fresh faces. You did it with Ram Milaayi… and now again in Tum Dena…Reasons? Well, in Ram Milaayi Jodi we wanted to give the show a fresh look, hence the casting of new faces Nishant Malkani and Priyal Gor. But in Tum Dena… the script demanded a couple who is fresh, not yet seen on TV and who would beautifully portray the emotion of pure love. The casting actually depends on the script and the storyline. Furthermore, it is challenging to work with fresh faces but the good part is that they are raw, energetic and hungry to work. They can surprise you at times with their impeccable performances. It’s great to see them mould and grow in front of your eyes. So how did you finalise Sonarika and Ankit? When I narrated the story to Sonarika, she had tears in her eyes. That moment I knew she is perfect for Abhilasha. Ankit is from Surat but now he is settled in Mumbai. I found him very innocent looking. He perfectly suits the character of Manan. Did they go through any workshop? Yes, we had a workshop of two months with Sonarika and Ankit along with Viveck Budukoti –who is also the director of the show. We spent a lot of time together and really enjoyed it. Okay. Are you happy with the promotion of the show? See, promotions can sometimes work in favour of a show and sometimes against it. It shoots up expectations and if a soap doesn’t live up to them, then it will go down the drain. However, by God’s will and the power of concept, a show usually does well. When you talk about concepts, do you think urban love stories have become a trend now? I feel the idea of following a trend always flops (laughs). Be in life or work, one always needs to experiment and throw in new and exciting things. And after all, variety is the spice of life. At one hand people love Laado and on the other, they can’t get enough of Bade Achhe. So there is no trend as such. It is all about innovation. Fair enough. As a maker, do you think there comes a time when the story reaches a saturation point? Definitely, it does. To make the screenplay of 300 and more episodes interesting and gripping every single time is not at all an easy task. Soch soch ke bhi aap kitna naya sochoge (laughs). So after a certain point when things get repetitive, a show either re-invents its storyline or goes off air. It is all about keeping the interest of viewers alive. Now let’s talk about Ram Milaayi Jodi. Are you happy with Angad’s entry and the chemistry between him and Sara? Yes, I am very happy with Angad’s entry. He is a very nice person and I have known him for a long time. And as far as Sara-Angad’s chemistry is concerned, it is good, though they are not even paired opposite each other. And they did not even go through many auditions or rehearsals. This only proves their mettle as actors. Rumors are also making the rounds that male lead Sujay Reu’s character in Ram Milaayi…will be side-lined after Angad’s track gains momentum? These are strategies and I can’t reveal them. I can’t talk anything about it at this point of time. Finally, how has the journey been with Magic Lantern so far? The journey so far has been wonderful. Last year has been full of ups and downs. Ram Milaayi Jodi has had its share of glory and controversies but at the end, we managed to put up a good show (laughs). I am hopeful about Tum Dena…I want to thank everyone for their love and support.