Manasi Salvi has, over the years, earned a reputation for essaying complex characters with utmost ease. She gracefully transitioned from playing lead roles to becoming a versatile performer, with the ability to carry off varied, challenging roles. Presently seen playing the role of Bhanu Bajpayee in Colors TV and Saurabh Tewari’s Parin Multimedia’s Mahadev & Sons, Manasi delivers a power-packed performance as a woman whose deep-seated love for her family eventually turns into bitterness when her sister, Vidya, marries Mahadev, an orphan who worked for them.
In an exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz.com, Manasi looks back at her career’s highs and speaks about the roles he has loved playing, her present role and the process she goes through to build a character.
Read on.
How would you describe Bhanu? How did you approach building her emotional world?
The beauty of Bhanu is that she is justified in whatever she is doing. Bhanu has all the emotions that a woman of today has. But the woman of today is not someone who will take things as they are presented to her. Bhanu will stand her ground and will fight back. Losing her sister and father at the same time has caused a lot of emotional turmoil for her. She has also made sacrifices by not marrying. So she is hurt deeply. It is mostly the one whom we love the most that ends up hurting us the most. It is from that hurt that life offers an individual a take. That is Bhanu.
As an actor, it has been important for me to be intune with time. I believe that every five years, TV has given me something nicer.
How do you look back at your career? Take us through the evolution of the versatile actor in you?
Television accepted me when I was 17 years old. Aashirwad was my first show. I knew about acting, poise, body language, etc. But I did not know anything about technicalities. I have learnt this over the years. As an actor, it has been important for me to be intune with time. Things have changed today, starting from the look, costumes, jewellery, your skin, how you drape your saree, etc. I believe everything has to be presented like a painting today. I feel the need to be perfect.
I have done positive, negative and grey roles. It has turned into a stereotype at times. But I work hard, pray hard, and have mostly got what I want.
What are the roles that remain close to you even now?
Preeti from Aashirwad is the closest to me. Khushi from Koi Apna Sa, Nisha from Woh Apna Sa, Avantika from Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara, Dr Isha Bhonsale from Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, have been close to me, and now I have Bhanu Bajpayee from Mahadev & Sons. I have grown with my roles. TV has truly been a mother to me. I believe that every five years, TV has given me something nicer.
I want my role to be central. I want my character to be the ‘saarthi’, or I need to fit into the chariot.
What is your take on the repetitive trends that we see on television today?
Firstly, I believe that we have two amazing screenplays in our culture, Ramayan and Mahabharat. Every house will have a Ram, Lakshman, Sita, and there will be a Ravana. Every house will have an Arjuna, Karna and a Duryodhana. If you go to see the stories, there is only one screenplay about family relations and family dynamics, played out with varying interpersonal relationships. These are being modified to suit the times we are living in. Earlier, they were weekly shows, but now the need is high, as we cater to daily shows.
TV is a writer’s medium. To churn out content every day, I believe that it would go beyond human capacity at times. Sometimes, one brain might not be enough to think so much; at times, there might be too many brains spoiling the broth.
If we talk about adaptations, we have been adapting stories from original works, from books, scriptures, etc. But we never used to directly copy it. But this trend of copy to copy has come now. At times, it has worked, but at times it has not. India is rich in culture, and every state has its own culture and story. Hence, it is not relatable at times. I think stories that are being adapted, but also being given the creative touch for the new story, have definitely worked. Also, the screen presence of actors and the right casting also matter on TV now. Also, you need to cater to the audience and know what they want. You need to work doubly hard for the audience to select your content from a sea of content that is available to them.
What are the prerequisites that you look for in a role?
First is the character, then is the location, after that come my commercials, and the next is the production house, and of course, the network is important. Also, my wardrobe! (smiles).
What do you want in a role?
I want my role to be central. I want my character to be the ‘saarthi’, or I need to fit into the chariot. I usually take roles where my parents and my daughter (going to be 18 now) can sit and watch comfortably. I don’t take roles which I don’t like personally. I need to believe in a character to do justice to it.
What is it in Bhanu Bajpayee that drew you to her?
Celibacy. It is difficult in today’s times. I like her spirit when she says I will not get married. There are many women like that, who make unthinkable sacrifices, as they are so one-tracked towards their goal. Celibacy is the most difficult vow. Bhanu is not negative. She is the only one who is right. Saurabh Tewari Sir promised me that nobody would call Bhanu negative once the episodes are on air. I trusted him blindly; he is so passionate about his work. Now it is all up to the audience.
How do you maintain the authenticity of a character?
I am very good at switching on and switching off. I can be Bhanu, and I can be Manasi. The few seconds needed to roll are enough for me to get into the character. I take my work very seriously. I drive myself. My drive from my set to my home is the time when I change from my onscreen persona to my real self. Similarly, when I am on my set, I don’t take my personal turmoils there. I am extremely private as a person, and don’t mix my two worlds.
How has the response been for Mahadev & Sons?
I usually don’t watch my work. But Saurabh Sir sent me the link to the first episode and asked me to watch how well I had performed. I gave the link to my daughter, Amisha and asked her to watch. She is my first critic. She came with moist eyes and said that there is so much acting inside me. So, yes, we are hearing good things for the show. But I have my whole body crossed, as it is the audience that judges and reacts.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I look up to my family for all the motivation. You cannot be independent all the time. You need people with you. My daughter and I have had our struggles together. I have kept a fit mind and am doing my job. She is also doing well academically. I am lucky to have supportive parents. I am still their child. Television has supported me. Parents have supported me, my daughter is supporting me, and my sister, who is in the Netherlands, is supporting me. It is a nice place to be in.
What do you like the most about the show?
The conflict between Mahadev and Bhanu is what I like the most. It is important to have a beautiful actor in front of you who acts and reacts and is in tune with your craft. It is a cakewalk to work with Shakti (Anand). We have worked together and have known each other for years. There is a comfort level and professional respect. Sneha (Wagh) is literally my baby sister. I am very happy that Dr Nishigandha Wad plays my mother. She is so knowledgeable. The one playing my brother is like my brother. To work with this new cast is amazing. They are respectful and are becoming better with every scene. To learn so much from the tutelage of Saurabh Tewari Sir is a great experience. Colors as a network has been promoting the show well.
