Exclusive: "The authorities will now realize their mistake", says Veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi on overturning shooting ban of actors above 65 years

The longest-running daily soap with over 3,200 episodes, Char Divas Sasuche is currently airing its rerun. The show was launched in November 2001 and ended on 5 January 2013. Veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi played the role of a strict yet loving mother-in-law, Ashalata Deshmukh in the TV show. Rohini spoke exclusively with ETimes TV and shared Char Divas Sasuche memories, changes in the TV industry, and her views on overturning shooting ban of actors above 65 years.

- Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar

I am glad after many years I am again going to see myself on-screen. The show was on air for 13 years. I am currently in a flashback mode. We have a group also on WhatsApp with our Char Divas Sasuche team. I never realized that it ran for 13 years but the credit goes to the production house, the crew, and cast. People get bored easily with normal saas-bahu serials but it didn't happen to us.

Talking about working with the senior director Khalil Hirlekar for almost 13 years. Rohini said, "Our director Khalil always worked on the series before introducing a new character. His specialty was he never introduced a new character directly so he used to give a few glimpses of the character from the start so that people can relate"

Remembering the last day of Char Divas Sasuche, Rohini Hattangadi said, "Everyone was emotional on the set of the last day. I remember there was an engagement scene and we turned and looked into the camera and got to know that our serial is going off air. We all were shocked. We all tried to ask the reason behind it but we don't know still. It was so abrupt decision but I am sure the serial has brought many positive changes in people's lives.

Talking about the rerun of Char Divas Sasuche, Rohini said, " After seeing the promos, people are calling me and saying that I have become so slim (she Laughs). The audience is saying I am looking so younger now and I told them that I never got slim, it was shot 10-15 years ago but yes I am excited to watch the rerun."

Talking about the journey of 13 years with the serial, Hattangadi said, "Actually, Char Divas Sasuche was my first ever Marathi serial. I have done many other serials but as a daily soap, this was the first. When I signed the project I only knew actor Ashok Sathe who played my husband in the series. The serial has seen so many ups and downs of our lives. When I started I didn't even know Kavita Lad who played my daughter in law on-screen. This is a journey. I still remember, after completing 500 episodes of the serial, we were all set for the party. Suddenly, we got a call from someone saying our co-actor Ashok Sathe passed away and it was shocking for us so we stopped partying after that so these are obviously sad memories with me along with the happy notes."

I am so happy that my three daily soaps like Honaar Sunn Me Hya Divshi, Doctor Don and now Char Divas Sasuche are back to back entertaining the audience during the lockdown. I am blessed that even at this stage of my life the audience is watching me on-screen. Also, I am eager to know the response of the Char Divas Sasuche.

Nowadays the actors are getting bored easily after doing just one television daily soap. Explaining the reason behind it, the veteran actress said, "Our shoot was so organized that time. I used to donate only 10 days of a month even being a lead actor to Char Divas Sasuche so we had time to do other projects also. Nowadays, lead actors give their 20-25 days of the month to a daily soap. At that time the entire star cast used to shoot for 10 days in a month and remaining days we used to do our personal projects. I remember I would work in the south industry and Hindi TV industry too along with doing Char Divas Sasuche and that was the reason I never got bored. Nowadays actors get easily bored with just one daily soap because they are doing just 1 thing every day. The credit goes to the production house and their planning.

Discussing about today's daily soaps and their storylines, Rohini Hattangadi has a piece of small advice for the makers. The actress said, "I am glad that Char Divas Sasuche TV show never followed up current events or festivals in the story track for eg if Diwali is going on in real life then we didn't forcibly push the Diwali track in the series. Now every serial celebrates Diwali in the storyline but they don't understand there original story track is different. There is no need to forcibly push the current festivities into your storyline, the makers should understand the subjectivity of their series."

Actors and crew aged over 65 will be allowed now to resume shoots after a Mumbai court overturned COVID19 restrictions limiting the attendance of senior people on the sets. Actress Rohini Hattangadi is happier now after learning about the news and said, "I am sure that the authorities will now realise their mistake. I will call it a 'mistake' because it was a bad decision. As I earlier said, we are not kids and everyone is capable to take care of his own. Some actors are the only breadwinners in their house. How long a person will survive on his or her savings. The actors have to earn for their living. Even if at the age of 68, I am fit and do all my stuff by myself then why wasn't I allowed on the set? Its good news for all senior actors. But there is another side too. The authorities have allowed senior actors on the set from now onwards that doesn't mean we will go on the set to the next minute. It doesn't happen like that. I got to know from my colleagues that producers are taking major precautions on the set but still we are senior actors and it needs proper planning and arrangement."

- Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar