New Delhi, September 19: I love doing comedy...
Comic scripts—like my I Love You (Sony), Hansi Woh Phansi (Sab TV), Gharwali Uparwali (Star Plus) and Mein Anari Tu Anari (DD Metro)—give me a platform for improvisation, which regular dramas don’t provide. I’m determined to do one comedy every year.

My latest character is inspired by Shobhaa De...
Shompa De’s role in Aao Bahen Chugli Karein (Sahara Manorajan, every Wednesday at 9.00 pm, from August 25) is inspired by Shobhaa De, as both are socialites and columnists. But that’s where the similarity ends. Shompa is rather young, with a loud dressing sense, and a belief that everyone’s below her in style and attitude. And her constant motivation is to be featured on Page Three.

The Ektaa Kapoor episode is history...
I still laugh about it. While anchoring Chalti Ka Naam Antakshari (Star Plus), I passed a comment on Tusshar Kapoor’s spelling. But Ektaa got offended and asked a character in a Balaji serial to imitate me. It was a rather stupid thing to have happened. It’s been quite some time now but I haven’t met her yet, after that episode. I don’t really know what we’ll say to each other when we meet.

Most Hindi serials are too stereotyped...
My serials Rishtey (Zee TV) and Saturday Suspense (Zee TV) had strong plotlines. And Bhanwar was based on true medical studies. But most serials are still in a primitive stage, with the regular ‘saas-bahu’ dramas. Nobody seems to innovate or take risks. It’s so cliched to associate bitchy characters with gaudy saris and loud make-up—there’s no depth in characters.

I’m enjoying Hum 2 Hain Na...
It’s my first daily drama (Sony, Monday-Thursday, 8.00 pm). I was worried it would be mechanical but it’s a great script. I play a young, single mom who’s working in a jam factory, raising a daughter and exploring romance, all at the same time.

I am still trying to crack the Bollywood code...
My role in Raaz was appreciated. I’m now appearing in Spice Productions’ Kuch Din Kuch Pal and Bevda Das. The latter’s a spoof on Devdas and I play Johnny Lever’s Chandramukhi. The big screen requires good public relations skills which, frankly, I don’t possess. As for the ‘casting couch’, there were a few flirtations that breezed my way. But I was smart enough to ignore them. Looking back, I’m happy with my decisions. I don’t believe in achieving anything through compromise.