Parul Chauhan to Nia Sharma: TV actresses who refused to play moms, grandmoms onscreen

Television's popular and most loved actresses are quitting their successful shows as they do not want to age on-screen. But what makes actresses walk out of the popular daily soaps that have made them household names? Is it the fear of getting stereotyped, or the concern that their characters will be relegated to the background? Or, is it that they feel it’s unfair to expect them to play parent to co-actors, who are almost their own age? While talking to Bombay Times, a few actresses spoke their heart out and expressed their viewpoint on the same. Take a look at what they have to say... (By: Tanvi Trivedi)

Actress Jasmin Bhasin of Dil Toh Happy Hai Ji, has quit the show. The actress has made it clear to the makers that she does not want to play a mother on screen. The show recently took a five-year time leap, and Happy (Jasmin’s character) will be soon seen taking care of her husband’s son from his first wife. Jasmin wasn’t comfortable playing mother on-screen at a young age and and hence decided to opt out. Talking to Bombay Times, Jasmin said, “The story-line of the show underwent a change recently along with a time leap. Initially, I wasn’t aware, but when I read the screenplay, I realized that I would have to play a mother. I didn’t want to do that, as that is not what I signed up for. I informed my producers and the creative team, accordingly.” Jasmin says that the time leap was totally unexpected, and she also expressed her disappointment over about the fact that she was not kept in the loop. She shares, “The time leap was premature. When the script was narrated to me, I had asked the producers whether there would be a child, too, on the show. I was told that my character wouldn’t get married for at least a year. However, it’s just been six months and there has been a change in plan already. I was unhappy about this sudden turn of events, but I am glad that we have parted ways amicably. You can’t blame anyone, because everyone is dealing with the pressures of ratings and competition.” Photo- Instagram.

Actress Parul Chauhan, who recently quit the popular show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, as she did not want to play a grandmother on-screen. Parul decided to quit the show after a two-year stint, as it was going in for a time leap and this time around, she was asked to play a grandmother. While the actress was not ready to play a grandmother on screen, she was also concerned about her character losing relevance after the time-leap. She says, “Ageing is common on TV shows, it is a matter of personal choice. If your role is relevant to the story and you are comfortable playing the character, you should do it. I was not comfortable playing the character I was offered, so I quit the show.”

Two years ago, Nia, who was playing the love interest of Ravi Dubey on Jamai Raja, quit the show after she was asked to play his mother post the time leap. She says, “I certainly don’t want to age on screen. When I heard about the leap, I felt that my journey on the show was over.”

Meera, who played the protagonist (Chakor) for three years, quit when the show was slated for a time leap recently, and she was asked to play mother to a grown-up girl. She shares, “I am just 22. How can I play mother to an 18-year-old? I agree that many actresses can pull off such roles at a young age, and maybe, I, too, could have. But I feel that I don’t look mature enough to play a mother at this point.”

The audience enjoyed watching the chirpy Anika (Surbhi) for two years until the makers decided to go in for a time leap. Post leap, Surbhi would have had to play mother to Nakuul Mehta (who was offered a double role). The actress, who quit the show last December, says, “How could I play mother to an actor, who I romanced on screen for two years? The leap is bringing a lot of changes. I do not want to play on-screen right now.”

Drashti, who was playing Nandini in Silsila, quit after the show took a leap, and she had to play a mother. Earlier, she had walked out of 'Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani' as well, citing similar reasons. She had reportedly said then, “My journey on the show got over, as I did not want to play mom.” Later, this was also confirmed by the producer of the shows, Sunjoy Wadhwa.

The actress quit the show when asked to play mother to a grown-up Sai. She had told us then, “In Mere Sai, they have described my relationship with Sai as a mother-son bond. This has been happening on TV for a long time and most actresses have to accept it.” Interestingly, Toral quit the show to play the lead in Udann, where she plays a mother, but this time to a teenager. She reasons, “There is a difference in playing a mother to an adult and a teenager.”

When the show took a 20-year-leap, Ridhi was asked to play a 50-year-old woman, who is also a mother. She quit the show, as she did not want to age on screen. She shares, “The makers assured me that they won’t make me look older, but I was skeptical. It’s a risk and I am not ready to age on screen. I don’t mind playing an older character on stage or in a film, as that’s for a short period, but TV is a different ball game. Fiction shows run indefinitely, and I don’t want to be stereotyped.”