Actress Jia Mustafa is captivating audiences with her portrayal of the complex character Saumya in the acclaimed Colors drama Mangal Lakshmi. As Saumya, she expertly embodies a multifaceted persona characterised by a dark, scheming nature and a fierce determination to thwart Mangal’s happiness. Her sharp attitude and venomous demeanour create an engaging tension within the narrative, making her character one of the standout elements of the show.
In an exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz.com, Jia talks about her journey with the show, about the love-hate relationship she has with the viewers, and more about her balanced outlook on the kind of responses she gets.
It is a mixed bag. On some days, I do laugh over it, but on a few days, I do get upset.
Read here.
How has the journey been with Mangal Lakshmi?
The journey has been great. It has been the best working experience so far. The co-actors are great, we have a lovely equation, one-on-one and individually. Now that we have been working together for a year and a half, we have formed great bonds and friendships with each other. It has been a beautiful journey and I have so much gratitude every day.
How do you handle this love-hate relationship with the audience as you play Saumya in the show?
Yes, it’s pretty much love and hate from people. Having said this, I do get a lot of positive feedback too. Of course, there are a huge amount of people who constantly send me abusive messages. I have to convince myself that it is happening as I am playing my part well. It is a mixed bag. On some days, I do laugh over it, but on a few days, I do get upset. At the end of the day, if you have chosen to play a negative character, you know such a response will surely come. I am handling it in the best way I can. If anything gets out of hand, I do block if anyone messes with my brain. In short, I can say that I have found my balance between the love and hate that Saumya gets.
I don’t agree with a lot that Saumya does, so I cannot relate to her in any way. But as a character, she is super fun to play.
What is your take about Mangal Lakshmi and Lakshmi ka Safar turning out to be two successful shows on individual merit?
We are fortunate that ever since our show Mangal Lakshmi got split into two, both are doing so well. A lot of credit goes to the hard work that goes behind the scenes to parallelly run two shows. To see so much love coming for the shows is a great feeling. I hope the audience gives much love to both shows. We don’t feel as though the shows have split. We still feel like one big family. We are happy with the individual success of both shows.
What’s the best in Saumya that you like?
Saumya, as a character,r is all black. It is one of the darkest characters I have played. She is black and obviously does not have any justification for what she does. I enjoy playing the character. There is so much to her, so many shades and layers, that I get to do different stuff daily. Saumya is at times happy, at times crazy, angry, and there are times when she is a complete psycho. I feel like I have something new to look forward to on a daily basis. Of course, I don’t agree with a lot that Saumya does, so I cannot relate to her in any way. But as a character, she is super fun to play.
Are you now worried about being categorised for negative roles in future now that Saumya is a big hit?
I am not worried as I have been playing negative characters from as far back as Pavitra Rishta goes. That was the time when the typecast happened to me. There was a time when I wanted to question it, and I used to get angry about the negative roles coming. Now I have reached a point where I have come to a state of acceptance. If people feel I am best at it, I feel happy. Yes, the audience gets a bit concerned about it and asks me why I play only negative roles. I don’t think it is in my hands. I am happy playing such characters. I hope I do get an opportunity to do different parts. Having said this, outside of TV, I have not been typecast. I have played parts that are not negative. Yes, on TV, I am in the negative space. All I want is to do good work.
How’s the team’s energy as the show continues to make a good mark?
All of us look forward to Thursdays when the ratings come in. We look forward to feedback on important episodes. The best part of the show is that the energy on the set is always great. No one is complacent, even though the show has been on for one year now. We work harder and try to do our best in terms of our character. We have a great team of experienced actors, and we have been around for a while. We are aware of the fact that many shows are not working, and the audience does not have the kind of attention span. We know the fact that, Mangal Lakshmi doing well is a big deal, and we aim to continue with the momentum. It is not something that comes easily in today’s time, and we want to continue the hard work.
What do you look forward to for yourself in the future?
I look forward to doing great work. I want consistent work to come my way, work that is appreciated. The medium does not matter to me, I need to enjoy performing. I hope and pray that Mangal Lakshmi goes on for as long as possible. Post it also, I pray that I get more opportunities for myself, as I love my work.
