Interview with actor Riva Bubber | |||
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Posted on 9 December 2003 | |||
Barely seven to eight episodes after she was introduced as the third-generation bahu Damini in Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (on Star Plus), Riva Bubber was abruptly replaced by Raavee Gupta for want of negative overtones. Now, in an apparent game of musical chair, Gupta has been booted and Bubber is back in the same role. The girl - who also plays the simple collegian Nikita Sharma in Neena Gupta-produced Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr (also on Star Plus) - knows she has only her stars and the channel's indecisiveness to thank for getting back her Kyunki... role. Bubber was very willing to talk about the mix up among other things with indiantelevision.com's Vickey Lalwani. Excerpts from a chat with the 23-year-old Riva Bubber: | |||
Your face looks familiar. Have I seen you in some ads? | |||
Let's start with 'Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr' (KHHP). How did the serial happen to you and why did you agree to do it? Neena is not the type who dishes out serials for the heck of it. She translates an idea into a show only if she is sure about it. Her last serial Saans on Star TV achieved near cult status, remember! KHHP is a serial for the youth, by the youth and of the youth. And yes, there IS an audience for it. People have got bored of the saas-bahu types. Anybody who has been to college would identify with KHHP. Besides there's no vulgarity in the serial. | |||
You say people are bored of saas-bahu types. And yet you signed up for 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'. What's the logic? Getting inspired by a good concept is okay, but the herd mentality which exists, must go. One can't deny that innovativeness is sorely lacking. | |||
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Back to 'KHHP'. Despite the fact that Sonal Pendse, who plays Ash, looks more dynamic, you have managed to make a mark as Nikki. How? Several elders recognise me on the road, come up to me, and say, "Are you Nikki? We wish that we had a daughter just like you." | |||
How close is Nikki to Riva? | |||
If the role of the flamboyant, exuberant and hep Ash had been offered to you… | |||
How did you bag 'Kyunki...'? I mean for the first time? | |||
If so, why were you ousted from 'Kyunki...' after a few episodes? Secondly, I had a very positive role in KHHP. I was known quite well as the well-behaved Nikki. In Kyunki, on the other hand, Damini's character was suddenly taking a negative turn. I was not too keen on playing a negative character. I felt that I needed to build a particular image. I didn't think I could do a positive role in one serial and a negative one in another at the same time, so early in my career. Some people would call it variety but I thought otherwise. Thirdly, I could not identify with the change at all. I could not digest the amount of negativity. It was too drastic. I couldn't figure out why the entire Virani parivar had to suffer because Gautam has tricked Damini into marrying him? I would have wanted Damini's retaliation to be a bit subtle. | |||
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It's strange that you digested the change your role took in 'KHHP' but not in 'Kyunki'? | |||
Balaji signed you for the character of Damini in 'Kyunki...', then you were replaced by Raavee Gupta and now you have been offered the same role again. Do you think this game of musical chairs is fair on the viewers? | |||
Ekta says your replacement, Gupta (Raavee), was asked to quit because Balaji was getting letters and emails criticising her acting. Heard that one? | |||
Which serial is dearer to you - 'Kyunki...' or 'KHHP'? That's difficult to answer. Frankly, Kyunki... is Kyunki... It has its own place in the television industry. But Kyunki... revolves around Tulsi only. Other characters may come and go - but they can't hog the limelight. On the other hand, KHHP is my baby, even thought lesser people watch it. | |||
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Considering that TV shows are getting bolder by the day, would you do what Mahek did in 'Kaahin To Hoga'? ... a silhouetted lovemaking scene? No, I won't do bold scenes. I am quite a prude. | |||
What kind of an actress are you? Spontaneous or methodical? Anyway, I like my directors to give me a little flexibility in the way I enact my scenes. | |||
Do you plan to get into films? I have received quite a few film offers but I turned them down. I do have respect for the film industry. But I don't have the inclination. | |||
As much as I would like to believe you, there is one niggling doubt. More often then not TV artistes claim that they aren't interested in films, but they don't waste time in grabbing a role when offered one. | |||
What about more serials then? In the initial episodes, I will play Siddharth's friend, but further ahead there is a romantic angle involved. | |||