Shubhaavi Choksey at a young age may be playing mother to grown-ups in her TV shows, but the actress says she will never sport grey hair. She has her reasons for that. She says, “I have always essayed strong roles despite not being the main lead. I choose characters that are different and difficult to portray. Yes, they may be much older than what I am in real life, but they are always strong characters. However, I don’t want to use whitener on my hair for a show unless it is absolutely necessary. If someone asks me to do so, my instant reaction is a no. That’s because I don’t belong to that age group in real life and prefer to avoid doing that as much as possible.”
If the story absolutely merits it, only then will she consider doing it, she says. “If there is a graph and the story develops over the years, and my character has to grow really old, then I don’t mind sporting grey.”
Television shows are known to take time leaps, but actors continue to look young, which makes it all look very unreal. At a time when OTT shows focus on realistic portrayal, shouldn’t television also do the same, we ask. To this, Shubhaavi says, “I would only talk about my show and not other shows. In our show, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2, when the leap happened, I was wearing pants and western outfits, and now I am wearing a sari and my hair has grown longer. My character does look older and more mature. So, grey hair wasn’t necessary.”
Shubhaavi made her TV debut in 2004 with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. However, she feels she hasn’t got her due as an actor. She says, “I do think that I haven’t got my due and I think that’s mainly because I kept taking breaks.”
She adds, “I am happy with the way my career has shaped up. But I have taken a few breaks. In 2007 after my wedding, I took a break because my husband has a business in Dubai, so I was juggling between the two countries for a year. Hence, I couldn’t sign any TV shows and when I thought I would get back, I got pregnant. Post pregnancy, I took up Bade Achhe Lagte Hain in 2011. After that show, I took a sabbatical for five to six years because I wanted to be with my child. Post that, I came back and did Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2 in 2018 because by that time my son had grown up a bit. So, yes, I have given time for my personal life as well. But now, I am here to stay without any breaks.”
