Achint Kaur has enjoyed doing Zee5 show Jamai 2.0 along with Nia Sharma and Ravi Dubey.
“This Ashvini Yardi produced web series is completely different in story/genre, shooting style and characterization, as compared to the Zee TV show by the same name and same cast.”
Talking about her underworld don character, DD (Durga Devi), Achint, who has been part of TV since the days of Swabhimaan, Banegi Apni Baat and Kitty Party, says, “It was really fun to play her, for she had lots of layers (concerning specific emotions). Also, web being much more real, I had to underplay. I was also asked to bring out the inner feelings of the character to the fore. To be honest, when I saw the final cut, I felt I could not totally dump my inherent TV conditioning. I need to work on this and will do so.”
When asked about the mild flirting that DD has with her to-be son-in-law (Ravi), she says, “This often happens in day to day life as well. Even my sons friends joke with me, saying had you been a bit younger, we would have gone out with you. Just harmless fun, nothing serious.”
This is Achint’s second web series. Prior to this, she had done Hey Prabhu (MX Player), which again had a more complex character. “Doing such roles pushes you as an actor as well.”
She has no idea about season 2 of Jamai Raja. “The makers (Ashvini Yardi) are still working on the story. We originally planned to have a 20-episoder first season, which was eventually whittled down to half.”
“The entire shoot wrapped up in 40 days, followed by post production and marketing, so was kind of a rush job,” says Achint, who has done several films, last being the Vivek Agnihotri political drama, Tashkent Files.
Looking ahead, Achint would not mind going dare bare on the web. “Why not? I had worn a bikini for a Sahara show, Parchhaiyan, 17 years back. Things became regressive only with the entry of the daily format. For me, what only matters is that is it required by the script?”
“I never understood what this fuss is all about (kissing, talking about masturbating). We are actors, just doing another role at the end of the day.”
But most TV women will baulk at going bold, fearing losing audiences.
“Has Nia not done it? One must always evolve with time. Some can do it, others can’t.”