It's just a serial and actors don't have any say in the script: Ashika Padukone, Sri Satya on Nayani slapping Sumana for wearing a western outfit in Trinayani

Trinayani has created a stir on social media with one of its recent episodes on July 21 where Nayani (Ashika Padukone) slaps her sister Sumana (Sri Satya) for getting decked up in western wear. This didn't go well with a section of netizens who accused the makers and actors of 'moral policing' women. In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, Ashika Padukone and Sri Satya spoke at length about the sequence, the say actors would have in the writing, the general perception of the audience, and much more. Excerpts...

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By SriRaam Chelluri

Nayani is a small-town girl, she is illiterate and hasn't seen much of the outside world. Her father is a priest and has deep-rooted traditional values. She couldn't tolerate Sumana who could bring shame to her and her upbringing with some western wear. Moreover, Sumana was easily influenced by Thilottama and others. So, Nayani did what she felt was right. People can't or take time to accept someone in western wear if they are accustomed to seeing them in traditional wear. Guess, the same happened here, too.

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It totally depends on the story and characterisation. Sumana comes from a village and she thought it was okay to wear what she liked. It all depends on the writing, we are just actors and that is not real us.

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I'm usually seen in a western wear but I transform into Nayani on the sets. It is our job to give what the show demands. As actors, we don't have much of a say in the script. Only the makers and channel decide what has to go. Moreover, we don't have that time on the sets to sit and discuss the consequences of doing something that we are asked to do.

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Most of the time, we get to know the sequence and the dialogue only before the shoot. Moreover, my character got extended in the show very recently after it got some good response. I was just doing what I was being told to. Even for this scene, I went with 2-3 options and this was chosen. Moreover, this wasn't obscene, either. So, I had nothing to object to. As actors not all of us can say 'NO' to what we are asked to do. Maybe senior actors can but not us.

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I can't change Nayani to be Ashika or impose my views and tamper my character. I feel people should also remember that they can't compare or equate everything to real life. It is just a serial and it has to be seen that way. Everything looks wrong if you start comparing with something else.

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I understand some families have objections with their girls wearing western outfits. But fortunately, my family was very liberal. Though I grew up in Vijayawada, my family never told me what to wear and what not to. Moreover, I don't wear western outfits often. In fact, it was my dad who supported me during my modelling stint. I just got lucky.

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To me, it's not about wearing traditional or western, comfort is what matters. There's nothing to think about. My father was a banker and we have experienced many cultures growing up. So, my family and even my in-laws don't have a problem with what I wear. My in-laws especially don't tell their daughters what to wear and what not to. I'm just fortunate to have got the best family. There are some people who find faults, criticise or make a big deal out of everything you do especially on social media. If 100 people love you, there'll be at least 10 people who hate you. I think artists should be a little stronger and let go off a few things.

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