Zee TV’s biggest historical magnum opus Kashibai Bajirao Ballal brought to us the forgotten story of Kashibai. Presenting the tale of one of the most legendary women of the Maratha empire.
Now, the show took a 7-year leap, and the iconic character Mastani was introduced. Television beauty Farnaz Shetty joined the cast as Mastani. She had earlier been part of projects like Veer Ki Ardaas…, Waris, Siddhi Vinayak, and Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum. In an exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz.com, Farnaz spoke about her role, challenges, and more. Read on:
How did you bag the role?
This character came to me in an unusual circumstance. I was not expecting it. But I feel it was destiny’s call. The moment I read the script, I thought if I would be able to justify the character? However, later I felt confident. In the film Bajirao Mastani, we have seen a very small journey of Mastani. This show goes beyond while depicting her character, and hence as an actor, I get scope to perform.
Mastani is an iconic character, what preparations did you do for the same?
Yes, it is iconic. Especially after the movie Bajirao Mastani, it has become a household name. I am a trained classical dancer to some extent. I also know martial arts. Hence, I just had to brush them up. Mastani had a lot of patience. She waited for her love for 16 years. I too had to grow similar traits as an artist. Apart from that, language is a difficult task. I keep on reading Hindi and Urdu literature. My command of the Urdu language is pretty decent.
What were the challenges while getting into the skin of the character?
Mastani’s character is very sensitive. It can be received in a negative way as well. There is a thin line between loving someone and crossing the line. One more thing is that Mastani had grace and she was also a warrior. So, to maintain the feminist and masculine sides of a woman was challenging. I had to be very perfect in delivering my dialogue and working on my body language. These were the challenges while getting into the skin of the character
We have seen many actresses playing the role of Mastani, how will you stand out
I always feel every artist would perform a character differently. I would not compare my projection of Mastani with others. Having said that, sometimes it helps when you see other artists performing the same role. I generally don’t see other artists’ work as I don’t want that to affect my performance. I just work on my character to keep the authenticity intact.
What can fans expect in the upcoming episodes?
In the coming episode, audiences will witness the love story of Mastani and Bajirao. They will also witness Mastani’s energetic performance. The upcoming dance sequence will showcase a new side of Mastani as she displays her magnificent dancing skills. In a bid to stop her beloved Baji from leaving, she dances her heart out and I have to say, the experience was epic. The choreography was truly fantastic and even though we were running short on time, I gave it my all. To be honest, I didn’t get a chance to prepare myself but knowing the basic nuances of classical dance helped me execute this performance effortlessly. I hope the audience appreciates my performance as well as the whole sequence and keeps showering us with their love and appreciation.
Any final message for fans?
I want all to witness this magnificent character. The story and writing are phenomenal. While watching the show, you will fall in love with Mastani, Baji, and Kashibai. I want my fans to watch and shower their love.
