Exclusive - Papia Sen Gupta: In my 30 years in TV industry I’ve seen good times, but there are a thousand faults you find today that were not there earlier

Papia Sen Gupta, who has been part of TV shows like Pyaar Ki Yeh EK Kahaani, Brahmakumari and Qayamat Ki Raat, has been part of the industry for more than three decades. She says her character, Sudha, in Gauna: Ek Pratha has been a special experience for her. She feels a strong connection with her on-screen avatar well, which reflects in her performance.
“I’m playing a mother, Sudha, who is also a reality check for her stubborn and arrogant daughter and family.She believes in the right path and does what is correct, even if she has to face the consequences,” she says.
Papia's look for Sudha is simple with a bit of heavy jewellery. She takes an hour to become the character. She first gets her hair done, followed by makeup, and then changes into her costume.
“I relate to Sudha a lot because in real life too, I'm very simple, straight-forward and positive. I have an open mind and I am always ready to listen to everyone, but I do what is right. Being disciplined and humble are the other two things that are a part of my character traits,” she adds.
The actor expects Gauna to reach out to more people. “I'm hoping that our show will do very well and praying for fruitful and positive feedback from the audience. The USP of the show is the story, which is different from most of the series on air right now,” she shares.
Praising the team of the show that makes working an enjoyable experience, she adds, “I gel with everyone, but I have become quite close to Shubha Saxena, who is playing my daughter-in-law in the serial, and Parvati Sehgal, who is playing my daughter. Parvati is a prankster and makes us laugh a lot. Both are very hardworking and nice. It's just been a week since I started to shoot. Things change in time, but I hope and pray our friendship remains.”
This is not the first time that Papia has collaborated with the Patnaiks. “I have worked with them in 2015 for a show called ‘Main Na Bhoolungi’. It was a hit show with a very good star cast. I'm glad to work with them again. Lovely couple (smiles). Very comfortable atmosphere on the set too, so far, so good, she says.
The TV industry has evolved over the years. Sharing her experience of working here for decades, the actor sounds emotional.
“This year, I will complete my 30 years in the television industry, and I have seen the best time in this field. But it has gone down from excellent to worst. Money is not paid in time to the actors, sometimes producers treat actors as property rather than human beings, working hours have become 16 hours minimum and there is no proper food on set and so on. There are at least a thousand faults that you can find today in our Industry that were not there earlier,” she rues.
OTT has given TV competition. “Completion or Competition? If you are talking about web series, it's a different ball game altogether. Earlier, every serial in the 1990s had a great story and a moral at the end of it. Now I don't find anything to learn from a serial or series. It's only become more of soft porn with no morals. OTT means over the top, and over the top it is,” she responds.
So how do you unwind after a hard day's work? “The place where we shoot is out of Mumbai, in Kaman, on the Bhiwandi Highway. It takes 1 hour to travel in the morning and 2 to 3 hours to get back at night because of heavy traffic. I have three babies (my dogs—Cara, Lucky and Sugar) at home, and I wait to get back and cuddle them. They are my biggest stress busters. I don't have time to eat dinner as I get home by 12 a.m., which is extremely late,” she ends.