Exclusive: Aasiya Kazi on her Bandini co-star Ronit Roy: He was the one to give me a reality check on the struggles an actor goes through in life

TV actress Aasiya Kazi was 18 when she made her debut opposite seasoned actor Ronit Roy in Bandini in the year 2009. The actress speaks about her journey in the TV industry exclusively with ETimes TV. In this week’s Tellyblazer section, Aasiya speaks about how she became an actress accidentally, her acting opposite Ronit Roy, who is 26 years older to her, having no work on and off, how her parents have been a big support system to her and more.Read here:
In TV, celebs are often typecast. Are you also looking out for opportunities on other platforms?
Outside of TV, I would definitely love to do web show. But it has to be family oriented as I have my own limitations. I can’t cross that boundary. Creatively there’s a wide option to work on the digital space. In TV, characters get stereotyped. Luckily, for me I haven’t faced that. I have played positive and negative roles. I did comedy shows as well. As an actress, I have got to explore more. I remember in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kahan, I was offered to play this city girl speaking street style language, at the auditions I refused saying I won’t be able to do it. But then the producer liked my audition and he had the faith in me. Even with Tenali Rama, I never felt I would be able to do comedy. I have been lucky with the roles I have played so far.
On Tenali Rama going off-air
I got so many messages from kids, who were upset when Tenali Rama went off-air. It was a show, which my entire family would watch together and they would give me feedback too. A lot of people want a second season. I will definitely do if the second season happens. Also, I feel it is important to have a comfort zone where you are working. Tenali was a very good team and production house. It is like your home. That positive atmosphere is very important. I remember there was one place of work, where I was not comfortable at all and it affected my work. Mentally I was not happy.

Please elaborate why it affected you mentally…
Obviously, I can’t take the name of the place. Not only in this particular industry, you work anywhere in the world, if your surrounding is not good, it affects your work. People can see something is amiss on screen. I could see that gradually in my work. I started feeling that I can’t work here anymore. Even the character was not going in the direction, which I was said earlier. There were many things not working in my favour. I was just dragging that character due to my commitment. I wanted to give up but then the show went off-air. But I have so many good memories in the industries. I feel some negative experiences are also required to learn from them. I don’t have any regret.
You made your debut with Bandini, a show which was ahead of its time… how did you land up with the show?
I did a few ads prior to the show but I was hardly noticed. Actually, I never wanted to work in this industry or rather I didn’t want to work only. I remember it was my last audition. It was about a simple, village girl and I was a very quiet girl. I went without makeup and said my lines with a blank face. Till I signed my contract, I didn’t know it was opposite Ronit Roy. I was very young to even understand what is work and how things work. I would have signed any given show. But God has its own plans. Till one year, I was just taught all the technicalities. While doing that show, I decided to work and not sit at home. I became mature about work while doing this show.
Were there any inhibitions when you had to do scenes with Ronit Roy?
I got to know Ronit da is there and I thought I would be playing his daughter. That thought will never come in your mind that you are opposite him. I was just very confused at that time. My mom was shocked and confused about how the pairing will be – I was so young and Ronit sir is such an experienced actor. Then Ekta Ma’am spoke to me and narrated me the story. They were all talking and I was watching them blindly. I tried to act mature. I never explored anything in life. I started going out after doing this show. I was that going to school/college from home and coming back. I got to learn a lot from the actors.

On working with Ronit Roy
I got to work with such experienced actors like Ronit Roy and Rasika Joshi (Tarulata Kanji Waghela). They would share their experiences about how an actor’s life is, the struggles they have to face, etc. In fact, it was Ronit Roy who gave me a reality check that I will also see ups and downs in my career. He used to share his stories. I understood it is no cake walk that after one success/ or a show, everything will fall in my lap. After Bandini I got to know that all actors face struggle and everyday is a learning lesson. Life is very unpredictable of an actor.
How did you sail through post Bandini… was it a smooth one?
During Bandini, I decided that I want to work in this industry. Bandini was a hit show and I had a good fan following. But I never felt that starry. I was 16 then. As compared to any 16 year old now, I didn’t have that maturity. Bandini was a huge hit and such a big thing at that time. Everyone would be celebrating seeing the TRPs and I would just think that we have done something right. When Bandini ended, I got second show in 15 days. I just signed it without thinking. It was a grey character I took up after playing the lead. Now if I take a role, I will think twice. I got 2-3 shows back-to-back and then came a phase when I sat at home. I was home for 1 and half – 2 years. That was the time I got a reality check. It kept relaying in my mind that I had to see this phase. I always believe in staying rooted to my ground. Then I kept getting a show, sitting at home and just stayed patience.

How was the waiting for work period for you? Did you feel stressed?
Thankfully, I stay with my family. That stress doesn’t hit me. I know actors who stay away from their families and leave alone. It hits them financially. I didn’t have to worry about that. Financially, mentally, emotionally, I always have somebody with me. I have been independent and financially supported. Financial struggles and living in this city is very difficult as I have seen my close friends. I believe in God blessing me with opportunities and I keep working hard.
How did you convince your parents about you wanting to pursue acting?
See, I never wanted to become an actress. I didn’t want to do anything. I wanted to get married after 18. I was waiting for my 18th birthday and when I would get married. I wanted to chill at home. This was my attitude. In school, when friends would discuss what they want to become when they grow up, I would say that I want to get married. But my mom wanted me to do something in life. She pushed me to give auditions. And my father was also supportive. Everyone in my family, relatives are proud that someone is in the industry. They feel proud that our surname is being recognised. They keep asking me about my work and are also concerned when I go to shoot. They care for me.

Do you feel an active presence on social media in today’s time helps an actor in getting more work and opportunities?
Definitely it does. And I am not a very big supporter of casting happening because of social media. Give me a script and I am ok to give auditions ten times. But giving roles on the basis of social media followers and presence is not right. Social media has become a race and everybody is running. Some people have given social media so much importance in their lives that I have seen people getting depressed. That is wrong. Even I feel pressured to be present on social media because I am an actress. At times, I do feel the burden. And all this has happened recently. Many people did get help through it. It is for good things, but don’t pressurise yourself mentally. Post a picture and forget. Don’t check how many likes or comments. And also, stop judging people on social media.