Sonia Singh, who is playing the negative lead in &TV fantasy, Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gaatha, is enjoying the process. “I have played the vamp several times before, but this is the first time I am playing the fantasy genre, which allows you to play with your creative juices. This is different from my last historical, Sher E Punjab – Maharaja Ranjit Singh.”
“Also, the costumes here are much more revealing. I have no issues with glamour, having always had that attractive sari look in my other shows (Dil Mil Gayye, Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli and Parichay). The other woman needs the oomph element, as opposed to the sober main lead.”
Having said that, Sonia will not don the dare-bare avatar on the web. “I have got several digital offers, but most have scenes that are beyond my comfort zone. Hence I am satisfied with the limits of TV.”
Here, she accepts that Vikram Betaal has not done as well as expected, “It is disappointing, and no one knows what is going wrong. The ratings game is very unpredictable. Sometimes, the least talked about show ends up becoming a chartbuster.”
Ask her why Indian negative characters can’t be less loud, and she says, “Well, that is requirement of female audiences, who are our main viewers. As an artist, I can do just about anything; but finally, it all boils down to what is written for me. If you give me a psycho character, I can make her go extremely crazy.”
Sonia too has become victim of type-casting. “Now, no one wants to cast me in any other genre. Even if I act in a goody-goody role, I don’t think audiences will accept my bonafides, assuming that she has something to hide.”
Like many vamps before her, Sonia too has come across angry fans who fail to distinguish between her reel and real life avatars. “I don’t read the abusive online comments, for they do affect me. Once, during my Choti Bahu stint, one lady was about to slap me, asking why don’t you leave the male lead alone? I told her, ma’am, I am just my doing my character, and also neither is his on-screen love interest his real life better half.”
