Sayantani Ghosh, a versatile actress with an impressive career spanning nearly two decades in Mumbai’s bustling entertainment industry, reflects on her journey with humility and pride. Over the years, she has embraced a wide array of genres, showcasing her remarkable ability to tackle complex and unique roles that challenge her as an artist. With each performance, she has consistently demonstrated her talent, proving time and again that she is an actor truly worth trusting and investing in. Her dedication and passion for her craft have made her a standout presence on screen, earning her a respected place in the hearts of audiences and industry peers alike.
In an exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz.com, Sayantani talks about her humble beginnings, her growth in the acting sphere and her continued perseverance and hard work rendering her good results.
In a candid and exclusive interview with IWMBuzz.com, Sayantani reflects on her modest beginnings, sharing stories from her early days that shaped her passion for acting. She delves into her journey through the competitive world of performance, highlighting the challenges she faced and the resilience she developed along the way.
Read on.
You have been in the industry for nearly two decades. As you look back at your fruitful journey, what are the key phases that strike your mind when it comes to your evolution as a versatile performer?
Yes, it has almost been 20 years in Mumbai. Before that, I was in Kolkata working for one and a half years. So yes, it is still a journey, where I don’t want to ever reach any destination. The beauty lies in the journey itself. There have been many such occasions and phases which have been important in shapingVersa me into the kind of person I am today. I was very young when I came to Mumbai, only 22 years of age. Luckily, I landed up with many projects in Mumbai back to back. I got my big show Naagin. Then came a lull in my life. I had to see a phase where I had no work for a year. This hardship I faced early in my career, was important in shaping me for the future. After I bounced back, there was another phase, in 2013 or 14, where it was tough for me to convince people of my screen age since I started young. All these things have been important to me as I did not have many options coming my way. I had to look into the financial aspect too. I had to pick and choose the best option. Thankfully, today, if I look back at my career, I can with humility say that I am one of the few actors in the industry who can portray both sides of the spectrum.
Back in the day when I started, an underperforming show would run for 1 and a half years. Cut to today’s time, if a show runs for one year, it is an achievement.
Which has been the role/ roles that remain closest to your heart even now? Why?
It’s like asking a parent to choose between their babies. There is no one favourite role. My work has been my ‘Guru’, I have not had any technical training in acting. With every show I have done, I have grown in some way or the other. Naagin was my claim to fame. It got me that instant fame and connect. Apart from that, Mahabharat was a show which was physically demanding. A show like Meri Maa had layers to the character I played. Neela of Naamkarann was one of the complex characters I had to play. Simsim had me playing around with the harness. Overall, the roles I played were either physically taxing or emotionally taxing.
Being a veteran in the field of entertainment (experience-wise), how do you think TV has evolved with time? How is television placed today, given that viewers have a lot of mighty good options for entertainment?
TV per se is not under any threat. There was this thought that there would be less viewership with OTT coming. I would say, the concerning point is entertainment industry at large is under threat. Some movies are not doing well, there are web projects too which are not doing well. Overall, the attention timespan of viewers seems to have reduced. Our patience level has gone down. That is also reflective of these things. Back in the day when I started, an underperforming show would run for 1 and a half years. Cut to today’s time, if a show runs for one year, it is an achievement. Loyalties have gone down. Very few shows can garner that kind of loyalty. Having said that, TV will always find its place. We will strike a balance soon where there is a mixed bouquet of programming. Good storytelling will always find its place.
We are casting with the wrong lens, the lens being how famous one is on social media. That cannot be the deciding factor in choosing an actor.
What is your take on repetitive content that gets to be a part and parcel of many TV shows now? Explain.
Some makers have tried to make shows that are a little different. But when it does not rate well, there comes the problem. So I think show concepts are chosen mostly formula-based wherein the idea stems from shows that have worked. I don’t think one can blame anyone, as many experiments have been rejected.
TV shows are ending in quick span, with few shows not lasting even 2-3 months. Tell us about it.
Today, the leading shows are the ones which have been running for many years like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah etc. Not many newer shows have got that kind of viewership. Overall, if you see, TV shows are not doing well, and the budget of shows has come down. If a show comes on air, how long will it run, is a big question. It is very unfortunate. I also understand from the network point of view that they can push a show further only to a limit. But 2-3 months of on-air time is very a short span for a show to be judged.
I am a strong flagbearer of the TV fraternity, and I can talk for it, saying let us cast actors on the basis of their talents and how they are in terms of performance.
Has there been any show/shows that you have got hooked to and wanted to be a part of?
There have been many shows that I have liked. There are a lot of Western shows that I have liked. In Beyhadh, Jennifer Winget’s role was amazingly written. She was the hero of the narrative, though she was the anti-hero. I will probably want to do something like that.
Dahej Daasi did well and had a run of a year or so. But the show which was bound for a leap, has been shut shop. How did you take this decision in your stride?
It is no small feat that Dahej Daasi did work for 14 months. The show was unique, my character was very power-packed. I wanted to collaborate with Raghuvir Shekhawat and Ravindra Gautam. Vindhya as a character was relatable, though she was bad.
Over the years of hard work, what are the big learnings that have empowered you to become better in your craft?
There have been many big learnings that have empowered me as a person. One thing that I want to believe is that a lot of people associate destiny as directly proportional to the outcome. But I would also say that hard work eventually does pay off. Yes, I am blessed to have got the kind of opportunities that I have got. But I am not just a destiny’s child. In my life’s journey, destiny and hard work have held each other’s hands. Today, if I have got what I have got, I have also proved that I can do all kinds of roles with equal finesse and perfection.
Do you think there is a dearth of good actors now?
I don’t think there is a dearth of versatile actors. The dearth lies in the eye or conviction to cast them. As I have already said, I have more or less covered most of the genres and worked on them. We are casting with the wrong lens, the lens being how famous one is on social media. That cannot be the deciding factor in choosing an actor. My only humble request is, that everybody has their own space. I am a strong flagbearer of the TV fraternity, and I can talk for it, saying let us cast actors on the basis of their talents and how they are in terms of performance. A good show is a combination of lot many factors – you need a good story, a good script, a good director, a team, and primarily talented actors.
If there is anything new that you want to explore now, what are the options that come to your mind?
I was offered a very different role when Dahej Daasi was on. I did not know that Dahej Daasi would end. I refused that offer. It was mistimed and I had to reject it. As for work, my brother is going to become a father soon. So it is going to be a celebration time for my family. But, hopefully, many such roles come my way in the future.
Is there any role that has eluded you in your long career? Explain.
As I said, I have worked in almost all the genres. If I go a bit experimental, I would say, I would like to be a part of a black-and-white genre series, which will look very artistic. Action is something I have not done. So a lady detective role probably, and also I want to work with brilliant makers.
What are the goals ahead for the performer in you?
Goals for me as an actor is that I can continue with my good work when makers show immense faith in me to play unique roles. After being at work for two decades, I want to see genuine acceptance and appreciation for what I do. I have proved my mettle as an artist who can pull off complicated roles. I intend to keep that going.
