In this era of one show wonders, Jayshree Soni considers herself lucky to have bagged a lead role for the second time, with Colors' Agnipareeksha Jeevan Ki Ganga which airs at 1.30 PM in the newly launched afternoon band.

Jayshree tells us, "I have struggled a lot to get this role after my first show, Ek Safar Aisa...Kabhi Socha Na Tha went off air. I always wanted to take up something good mostly on Colors and that too, as the main lead. I was advised by my Manager, Rupesh Sonar to audition for Ganga. I was told that the role suited me, and he encouraged me a lot to go for it."

So that's how it all started and now Jayshree is sweating it out for the role. "I'm giving my hundred percent to this role. It's a simple role but at times simplicity is harder to achieve."

Jayshree goes on to describe her character, "Ganga is a very pure, simple girl who hails from a small village called Sundar Nagari. Ganga is very sweet and pure from heart and she has lovely voice. Her family is run by her father who earns his bread and butter through singing bhajans. But Ganga since childhood hears that she is cursed. Nobody wants to come near her, and she is even ridiculed by her step mother. She lacks the confidence that any ordinary child would grow up with."

Adding to her happiness of bagging a lead role is the fact that she has lost some weight. "Well whether I have changed or not is for you to decide, but yes I have changed a lot and have been getting a lot of compliments lately. Now I leave it up to the audience to decide whether they like my new look, or not," she signs off.

Reporter: Ranjini Nair
Author: Susan Jose