New Sanaya Interview in HT

New HT article. LOVED her answers! <3 em="">

'I've Told Mohit, I'm Going To Take Him Down'

Jokes Sanaya Irani about competing with her boyfriend; talks about her successes and failures.

Popular actor Sanaya Irani will soon be back on TV, essaying a new role in her upcoming serial, Rangrasiya. Having put her last flop TV outing Chhanchhan behind her, she says she's learnt lessons from success and failure. Confident of her new show, she is about competing with boyfriend Mohit Sehgal as his show Qubool Hai will clash with hers in the same time slot.

Is it true that Rangrasiya has been inspired by Shakespeare's Othello?

It depicts the destructive nature of love. When Ashish (Sharma, co-star) was briefed about his character, he was given the reference of Othello to help him relate to the intensity of the character.

So it's Ashish's character which is based on Othello, not the entire show. Okay, that makes more sense to me ... the story of the show does not seem inspired from Othello, from the promos and the previews. 

Do you sense competition with Mohit as your shows will air at the same time?

Well, I've told him that I am going to take him down. (laughs).

Not just Mohit, I hope she takes ALL other shows down too!!! 

Post Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon (IPKKND), people seem to expect a reprised version of your popular character Khushi. What's your take on that expectation?

I'm happy that people love me that way. I accept love in whichever form it comes, even if it is as Khushi. Obviously people have loved me as Khushi as perhaps IPKKND is my biggest show. But people also recall my other roles Gunjan and Chhanchhan to.

Love this answer ... it's definitely true, and I like the way she gives respect to all her shows and all her characters, while acknowledging that IPKKND is her biggest hit. But she has a lot of fans from MJHT - including myself ... and there are people who liked Chhanchhan too - despite the failure of Chhanchhan as a show, she doesn't shake it off and refuse to acknowledge it. Which I'm glad about, because I liked Chhanchhan and really wish that it had been better written. There was a lot I could relate to in it, and wished had been better emphasized. 

Have you put the failure of Chhanchhan behind you?

If my shows don't do well, it doesn't mean I say, "Oh my God, that was a disaster." You learn a lot from every show, and I had my share of learning with Chhanchhan. I don't consider it a bad patch in my life. Whatever happened on Chhanchhan happened for a reason and it had to end because I had to do Rangrasiya.

Loved this answer too ... as I said above, she acknowledges all her shows, success or failure ... and I love the way she takes the positives out of every situation. I'm glad Chhanchhan happened for two reasons -  it put a distance between Sanaya and Khushi, and we got to see Sanaya on screen for six months in the interim. 

Two actors sharing a bond of friendship is rare and it was lovely to see you supportingDrashti Dhami on a reality show. How did the two of you become friends?

Both of us find it wierd to talk about our friendship. We're like any two ordinary human beings who are friends. We are normal people and we do things that normal friends do. We met during our college days and we've been friends since.

Two college friends, who chose the same field and have both been doing well ... she puts in straight into the lowest common denominator ... really, what's the big deal? 

What do you think of Mohit's role in Qubool Hai?

I have watched the show but it was misreported somewhere that I hadn't. I really liked him on the show. A lot of people called to tell him that he's doing a really good job and I'm very happy that he is finally doing something that he likes.

Clarification again - straight and to the point. 

Quick Five

A show you like on TV currently?

Big Boss (BB) is the only show I currently watch, other than some English series. This is the first season of BB that I'm watching and I feel people selected this time are much more well-known that the other seasons.

An actor you feel is popular?

I really don't know as I don't watch a lot of television shows. But I guess actors of Diya Aur Baati Hum are popular as it is the biggest show on TV.

Hehe ... really?  The actors are popular?! She should have gotten her answer during SPL in Birmingham, when they were almost being trampled over in the rush to reach her and Barun! 

Anyway, nice of her to say this.  

A habit you want to get rid of?

I was very short-tempered but I think I have changed now. But, I think I'm very loud and impatient. I would like to change that.

That's Sanaya again ... she's quick to point out her own shortcomings ... secure and confident about what she is. Her fans think she's pretty much flawless - she knows she isn't.  

What kind of shows do you want to see on TV?

TV is about being creative so everybody should make what they believe in. People shouldn't overthink.

Again - no criticising or pointing fingers - but a pragmatic acceptance of the bigger picture. There are lots of channels, lots of shows ... people can make what they like ...  people also can watch what they like ... and ignore the rest! 

What do you think of reality shows on TV?

I like dance reality shows and feel various talents should be promoted on them.

Really loved this interview - her answers were straight forward and to the point. No beating around the bush, no waffling. She says it like it is ... I especially liked her answers about Chhanchhan and moving on from it, without ignoring it just because it didn't work. She takes it on the chin, and learns some lessons from it ...

There is a saying to the effect that one learns more from one's failures than from one's successes ... and that is the mark of a truly successful person.