Exclusive - My mother was disturbed seeing me play a widow: Actress Prathiba on her character in Yediyur Shri Siddalingeshwara

Actress Prathiba seems to be winning laurels for her performance as 'Revathi' with the devotional show Yediyur Shri Siddalingeshwara. From playing the role of a young girl to a married woman and a widow, the actress is giving her best in terms of performance and avers that this particular on-screen character has given her an opportunity to extend her horizon in terms of acting. In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, Prathiba opens up about the perks and the deprivation of playing the character 'Revathi'. Read on...

This is the first time I have been a part of a devotional show in my career. It is altogether a new experience for me. Initially, the main reason for me to give a nod to doing this show was that Naveen Krishna sir is directing it. I have always admired his works. It is indeed bliss working in a devotional show like Yediyur Shri Siddalingeshwara's show. I am able to extend my horizon in terms of acting currently.

My first day on the sets of Yediyur Shri Siddalingeshwara was very memorable in fact. It was a very challenging scene to shoot. I was not briefed much about my on-screen character in the show. All I knew was the very basics where the girl will be abandoned by her father from birth and treated as a bad omen.

Since Yediyur Shri Siddalingeshwara is my first devotional show in my acting career. I did face a few difficulties while shooting during the initial days. There are scenes where I walk barefoot amidst thorns and pebbles. This was completely new to me. My feet used to hurt as I am not used to walking barefoot and all. This I felt was the biggest challenge.

Usually, while acting in a commercial TV serial, there are immediate costume changes as there is a transition from one scene to another. But, that's not the case with the devotional show. Here, the continuity is quite lengthy and you are often asked to continue wearing the same costume to stay in sync with the storyline. This was new to me.

The makers are very particular about each and every detail during the making. The same was for my costume and the makeover for my on-screen character as well. I have to get my look approved before going for my shot. I still remember the first day of the shoot here. I got a hairdo done in a very trendy manner. But, that was not what the makers wanted. They wanted the old-school double braids with a middle partition. They wanted me to look like a typical village belle. But to my surprise, this entire look of mine earned many praises. Everyone who knew appreciated my look in Yediyur Shri Siddalingeshwara and kept complimenting me.

As mentioned earlier, I am able to explore more on my acting skills with this devotional show. I am able to showcase that good and evil through my on-screen character Revathi. There is a lot of scope for performance in acting as Revathi. That switch between handling emotions and being the evil one is challenging. In fact, I was very excited when the makers told me about the split-personality acting scenes.

I was a little skeptical when the widow phase of my on-screen character started in the story. More than me, my mother was disturbed to see me act as a widow. Seeing her, I was confused about what I was actually acting. I am someone who never steps out without wearing a bindi on my forehead. So, when the widow phase of Revathi started in the show, it turned out to be a complete change in makeover as well. It actually disturbed my mother.

This incident happened recently in my native place when we visited one of the households. An old granny actually asked the ladies of that house not to offer vermilion to anyone in front of me assuming that I would feel bad. She thought I am Revathi from the show and assumed that I am a widow. It took quite some time for everyone over there to understand why the old lady said that. Later, when we connected the dots, we tried to make her understand that I am Prathiba and not Revathi. But the old lady did not come to terms with it. She was just not convinced by anything.

Considering the fact that Revathi's character has many shades to perform, there was a time when the family members were a little worried as they were looking for a alliance for me. It was the beginning of Revathi's split personality that had an evil side to portray. So, whenever the alliance side would ask about my occupation, they would connect to the split personality scenes and question if I am the one who keeps howling and shouting in the show. It had kind of become an identity to me. So, I was a little skeptical if I had to say I am an actress.

But, at the end of the day, my entire family is very supportive of my acting career. They want me to achieve big in terms of acting. My mother got calls from her native place when I first made an appearance in the devotional show. She told me that everyone is happy to see me act in a devotional show that is based on the life of Shri Yediyur Siddalinghwara. At the same time, I am enjoying playing Revathi and loving every bit of my on-screen character.