Gujarati theatre is among the best in India: Swaroop Sampat

After she won the Miss India contest in 1979, there was no looking back for Swaroop Sampat. She starred in acclaimed TV shows like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and Naram Garam. But after her marriage to Paresh Rawal, Sampat slowly pulled herself away and concentrated on raising her sons Aditya and Aniruddh.
The doting mom shares, ���������I am not at all strict. I happen to be a very chilled out mom! Both of them are training to be actors and are very much interested in theatre and films.However, while Aditya wants to explore screenplay writing, Aniruddh is more interested in
direction.���������
Doesn���������t she miss being away from the spotlight? ���������I have no regrets because my kids were very young when I took a break and their upbringing was of topmost priority. I was also doing my PhD and some great theatre with Paresh. As a heroine, once you touch 40, you are too young to play a mom and too old to play a leading lady! In India, very few films are written for 40 plus actresses. It isn���������t as if I wasn���������t doing anything and I am happy with my choices in life.��������� she says.
Her fans can take heart from the fact that Swaroop will soon be seen as the female lead in the eagerly awaited Gujarati film Saptapadi. ���������The character has been inspired by me and it���������s very different from the run-of-the-mill Gujarati films. There are no garba sequences, for instance! It���������s more European in style and the characters are believable. People will love this film.��������� she shares.
Asked about G-Town not doing as well when compared to other regional film industries, she says, ���������It baffles me too, given that we have such fantastic literature to draw inspiration from. The problem is that filmmakers don���������t want to cater to urban audiences. Otherwise, Gujarati theatre is among the best in India and Gujarat boasts of some of the best intellectuals in the country too.���������
Swaroop, who has been doing exemplary work with children in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the field of experimental learning, says, ���������I believe drama is the best medium to teach children about life skills because life skills can be taught only by practice. You can���������t teach it through lectures. From children in elite schools, tribals in Dang and kids at a small village called Rajpur (���������it doesn���������t have a post box���������, she adds!) to teachers in Gujarat, I have worked with them. It has been a fantastic experience.���������
What���������s her take on today���������s films and TV serials? ���������I think the content on TV is just terrible! Where are writers like Sharad Joshi? Today, writers aren���������t given a free hand by channels, which is unfortunate. However, this is a great time for our film industry.��������� she signs off.