'I consider the look change as a bonus' - Sargun Mehta

After playing the bubbly, lively and at times childish character Neetu in Sudhir Sharma's 12/24 Karol Bagh, Sargun Mehta is now back with Zee TV again in a new avatar  in Apno ke liye Geeta ka Dharmyudh. Tellybuzz had a hearty conversation with the actor about her new show and on Karol Bagh going off air.

Enjoy the excerpts!!!

How were you selected for the show?
I was called for auditions after Karol Bagh and I got through the role. I never thought I could make it, but I am glad to have got the role.

This is your first show as the solo  main lead, how do you feel?
I feel amazing to work on this role which is different from Neetu in Karol Bagh.

You are doing the title role; were you nervous?
I was very nervous because I decided to do this show when I had two or three other options in hand. This is one show where basically the eyes are on you and I am still nervous about the show. But till now, the response has been good. Neetu in Karol Bagh was very outspoken , an attribute I could connect myself to and that made me feel comfortable. But later on the character changed in outlook where it was calm and composed that was opposite of my real self.

How is the experience working with a production company like Shreya Creations?
The experience has been great till now because I  have just worked for more than a month with them now. We have a good time on the sets and the co-actors are all very cooperative. Urvashi and I have been together for press conferences and now we are like a family.

Your looks have gone thro' a makeover for the show; were you apprehensive?
Not at all, in fact I consider it a big bonus that I am undergoing a look change. I liked the idea of makeover because I did not want to do another Neetu in television and was looking for a different character.  

What was your reaction when you heard that 12/24 Karol Bagh was going off air?
We had shot in Delhi for Karol Bagh where the lifestyle is completely different from Mumbai and the whole crew was like a family to me wherein we really became brothers and sisters. We also had a Karol Bagh get-together where everyone had come including the Producer and Director. We all felt bad with the show going off air, but at the same time you have to move on and I am a little practical on that.

Have you come across any person who has undergone domestic violence by the in laws?
I did not personally meet anyone who has undergone this difficulty but I have read a lot about it.  During my academic career I have been into street plays and drama wherein I enacted about this social crime.

New shows are scheduled in the early evenings; do you think that the prime time slot is gradually changing?
The prime time slot keeps changing. In the beginning we thought the slot as 10 to 11 were the best, and then it changed to a slot after 9 and today there are shows that do well in the slot of 8 to 9 or even in a slot earlier than that. It is a delusional concept that people do not watch shows outside the prime time slot.

What were the challenges when you transported from Neetu to Geeta?
All aspects of Geeta were a challenge because the character is completely different in looks, the body language and even the aura. When I was Neetu I just had to be myself and I could easily connect to the character because I myself am from Delhi. But Geeta is a girl who I have to portray forgetting myself and it took really a bit time for me to sink into the character. It is not as easy as we think and we have to be really careful in that.

In both your shows there has been a caring brother for you, how has  the relation been with Kanan Malhotra and Wasim Mushtaq?
Wasim and I have been really close in Karol Bagh and as I said earlier, we all had become like a family doing the show. With Kanan, I have just started working and the association has been good till now.

Who do you relate more to; Neetu or Geeta?
I relate myself to Neetu because the role was close to what I am in real, which is really bubbly and the real Delhiaite. But later on the character underwent a change and became more mature and serious which is a bit opposite of mine.

This your second show with Zee TV, any particular reason?
When the show was offered to me, I did not have to give a second thought because I knew the channel, and the people here are really very nice and helpful.

In Karol Bagh it was the story of sisters, and here we see good sibling chemistry with Geeta and her brothers. How was it to portray it?
I felt really great portraying it, and actually I did not have to portray that because it came out naturally for me. I too have cousins and the chemistry amongst us is very cordial and that naturally came out while playing in Geeta.

Now that you have shifted to Mumbai, what do you miss the most being a Delhite?
In the beginning I really had problems with shifting myself to Mumbai with all movers and shakers. I miss the food in Delhi, the Delhi momos, the kakori kabab and all the real Delhi food.

Reporter and Author: Saranya Valsarajan