‘Entering Glamour World after marriage and two kids was risky but I was determined’ – Priyamvada Singh
30th Oct, 2023 I Richa Devesar I Filmyy People
Thinking about a career change at the age when you have reached a certain position professionally as well as personally and on the top of it when you are a married woman and a mother of two! Not very often, we get to hear this!! Basically, we are so engrossed in living life in our so-called Safe Zone that most of us can’t even think of taking this risk, let alone doing it, for the simple reason that we are scared and the doubt of ‘what if i fail’ makes this (career) shift all the more difficult. But when Priyamvada got in to this situation, instead of thinking about failing she said to herself ‘what if i fly?’ She went ahead with this conviction and within just one week of sharing her portfolio, she was signed for a movie called Gone Kesh, wayback in 2018.
After doing MBA, B.Ed and PhD in English Literature and teaching for over 10 years, Priyamvada Singh had guts to try her luck in the glamour world at the age of 35. She is currently playing Farha in Katha Ankahee and Sushma Bua in Do Chutki Sindoor. It must not have been an easy ride for someone who had no connections in the industry. And the fact that with less than 5 years in the glamour World, this vivacious and cool lady has done lot of interesting work, makes her journey all the more interesting. Let’s get to know how she did it all and what actually prompted her to explore her instincts.
Entering Glamour World at 35 must not have been an easy step. Tell me who all, would you like to thank, for supporting you in this decision?
My family has been the strongest support system for me. My Dad, my mom, brother, sister, my husband and kids…. It was because of their support that I could not just think about this career-shift but could also make it happen. It really isn’t easy for a married woman to start acting after a certain age and stage in one’s life. But my family has always stood by me. Without their support it wouldn’t have been possible, for sure. I see a big smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes when they watch me performing and I love that. It is so satisfying to know that they are super proud on my achievement. My 14-year old daughter Adwitiya, 9-year old son Adbhut and my brother Mukund who’s just cleared UPSC exam, they jump with joy and shower me with complements on my look, hair, costumes, everytime they see me on screen whereas my husband Anirudh who is a banker, my sister Shikha, a cop and my Mom and Dad check on my performance. And I’m so grateful to God for this blessing.
Tell me more about your Mom and Dad so that we get to know about your inherited talents? Well, my father Dr. Yogendra Singh Chahar is an International Level Wrestler and my mother Ms. Meena Chahar has got a beautiful voice and if I tell you about her dancing, its like… even if she is listening to some song for the first time, she wouldn’t skip a beat. I have grown up seeing all that. So, getting in to sports and being creative came naturally to me. I was a national player of Hockey and Badminton in my school days. And dancing, although I could not learn it professionally for some obvious reasons but I feel, I’m quite good at that and I enjoy singing too.
And now I am intrigued to know your journey right from childhood. So, tell me what kind of kid, Priyamvada Singh was?
As a child I was a big entertainer like.. during family gatherings and functions, I used to be the one who would imitate actors, speak filmi dialogues, crack jokes and dance a lot.
Talking about childhood, which are your best memories?
Small cities, I feel have lot of warmth, care and people know everyone so well. I miss the festive season of Sehore (in MP) a lot (where she has spent her school and college days) especially Ganesh Chaturthi. I still remember, Ganesh Chaturthi was one festival, I used to look forward to. Participating in competitions and winning prizes, it used to be such big fun. This is one of the most fun memories of my childhood that i cherish and tell my kids also.
Have you been able to be in touch with your old friends? Absolutely, infact my friends say that you haven’t changed a bit as a person even after becoming an actor. I still meet them for get togethers, family functions, whenever I am in Bhopal where my parents live. I feel earning name, fame and money is one thing but bonding and relationships play a very important role in our lives. I feel how can those people with whom we have discussed and shared our dreams, not be a part of our lives when we attain those dreams.
How would you describe Priyamvada?
I am very observant and may not be very talented but hard working, for sure. I started my acting career at an age when people have already attained and have become what they want to be. Although, I did have this pressure initially but still went ahead with my decision. So, now I feel I don’t have any time to waste. I am always very focused, working very hard so that I get appreciation for my work. Also, I’m a quick learner.
Did you ever do theatre or participated in drama during school or college days? No, never! I have never participated in any drama during my school and college days. But yes, in school annual functions, I used to participate in dancing, quiz and speech but never acting. And honestly, never really got time to do all that professionally because studies, job, marriage, kids kept me pre occupied all these years.
Talking about your entry in to the acting world, which people and co-actors really helped you in becoming a better actor.. so to say?
This is one field where we get to learn from each actor we work with and that’s been the case with me from the time I started my acting journey. First of all I would like to mention my dear Casting Directors Neha Singhania, Aditya Surana, Vishal Gupta, Nazia and Jigar. They have made my acting journey so so easy by giving me great opportunities. I will always be grateful to them. Then comes, Sandeep Sikand who was the producer of my earlier shows Bahut Pyar Karte hain and Lag Ja Gale. He is one of those producers who actually sees the talent of a performer and if he feels the actor deserves more, he would create more opportunities for that actor so that the actor gets a better chance to showcase his or her talent. These people have a great role to play in my acting journey.
I have really been fortunate enough to have got chance to work with best of directors and producers and actors and talking about my co-actors I would like to mention few names. First one is Manav Gohil, a very senior and flawless actor and an amazing human being. Observing him was my very first experience of seeing how an actor can make a written scene look so magical and perfect. I got a chance to work with him in my very first daily soap Shaadi Mubaarak and ofcourse I was very nervous and anxious but the way he guided me and involved me in the scenes, was just amazing.
Then comes Samar Vermani, he is again one of the coolest and sweetest guys I have ever known and above all, he performs with lot of ease, a master of his craft and so effortless at the same time. While observing him, I realized that if son is like this, then his mother should also be like that. As a result, I improvised a lot in my character.
Gagan Anand is one more actor who has inspired me the most. I worked with him in Lag Ja Gale. His character was negative and so was mine as I was playing his wife. Gagan is a Punjabi and as my character was also Punjabi.. I was able to pull that character so well because of his guidance.
Beautiful and very senior actor Dolly Mattu is one actress, I have learnt so much from. Such a graceful lady, a natural performer she is. I observed her a lot and after seeing her perform, especially emotional scenes I challenged myself and my performance got better.
Anjali Mukhi..what a beautiful performer and human being is she. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much scenes together in Katha..Ankahee but I observed her a lot. The way she experimented with scenes, added her inputs was just a treat to watch. I just hope, I get a chance to work with her again.
So, now let’s talk about how the transition of a Lecturer-to-an-actor, happened.
You know, switching career at this age is very risky and if one is thinking to enter in to glamour world, its way more riskier. Noone from my family is from films, infact we have got nothing to do with film industry. But God has really been kind to me. I was born in Agra and did most of my schooling and graduation from Sehore. Then after marriage, I did M.B. A., B.Ed and then PhD (in English Literature) from Bhopal after which I started teaching Personality Development Skills in an Engineering College in Bhopal..where I taught for 10 years. What happened was that in 2018, we shifted to Mumbai as my husband got posted here. That’s when I decided that since I love acting so much, why not give it a try. I might fail but then what… if I fly? I have not had any training so I am not a trained actor, but what i feel is everyone already has that X factor. With training, it gets more polished.
How was the experience of getting your first acting assignment?
Within one week of sharing my portfolio and audition videos with casting directors, I was selected for Gone Kesh which released in 2019. I played the character of a boss of the leading lady. It’s the story of a girl suffering from Alopesia and how she overcomes this disease. My character plays a very important role in her journey. It was a very positive character and I loved playing it.
And what about Mamatva? I have heard it’s a Braj Language movie. How come you know this language so well?
One strange thing happened. Gone Kesh was the first film I signed but it released later and the shooting also started after I signed Mamatva, a Braj language movie. I played a grey character in the movie and villagers feel she is jinxed. I was very comfortable in speaking Braj since my Mom is from Mathura. But facing the camera for the very first time was a bit tricky for me, atleast on the first day but then with my director Keerti Singh’s help, I was able to understand it all, the very second day onwards. Actually what I had in my mind was that as soon as the director says Action, I have to start acting but my director told me no..you don’t have to act..you have to feel the character from inside. So, from second day onwards, I was able to grasp everything and acting was no more ‘just’ acting for me. It all became like… being that character.
Tell me about your first TV serial?
In the beginning of my TV career, I did this serial called Nazar where I had a cameo and it was very interesting role. I was a part of the group that was doing mermaid hunting and it was quite interesting. Then Crime Patrol came my way where I not just acted but tried my hand at writing story, and dialogues also. Infact, it used to be one of my very favourite serials before coming in to this field and I was thrilled when I got a chance to write as well as act in it. Infact, I also got an opportunity to write for a serial called Laal Ishq which received a very good response from the audience.
Your first Daily Soap Shaadi Mubaarak (2020) was shot during Corona time, how tough was it to shoot during Covid days and how was the whole experience? Yes, Shaadi Mubaarak was my first daily soap. It was a great experience but we had to take lot of precautions. With sanitizing and mask on, sometimes things would get a bit difficult. But, the whole experience of doing this serial was mind blowing. I had wonderful co actors whom I’ve grown up seeing, so naturally, I was nervous for first few days but then all awkwardness was gone as nobody made me feel like a newcomer.
Which is your favourite character out of the ones you have played so far?
Farha ofcourse, is my favourite character for the simple reason that its very realistic and Farha is very much like me. Its like playing myself on screen. Sometimes even my family says that Farha sounds exactly like you. And second one Lag Ja Gale as it was very challenging for me to play a negative character. I started getting hate messages for this character on Insta and got a bit disturbed also but then my daughter told me Mumma, you should take it as a complement, it simply means that you played your part really well. That’s when I realized, ya that’s so right.
And now about Katha..Ankahee. What do you have to say about your co actors?
I consider myself really lucky that I have got a chance to work with such great actors, our whole team is simply amazing and we all have a great bonding. The magic, the bonding that you see on screen comes out in such a beautiful way because every actor is such a beautiful person from inside. You know being a good actor, good technician is one thing but to be good with everyone is really commendable. Whether its Adnan who is an extraordinary person and a brilliant actor or Aditi who is so humble and a great performer. Bidisha is multi talented and a very dear friend. Then Samar, he is the most amazing and chilled out co-actor, I have worked with. Our director Ravi is one of the finest directors I have worked with. We all enjoy each other’s company a lot and everyday we get to learn so much from each other atleast that’s true in my case.
Your and Bidisha’s friendship is amazing both onscreen and offscreen. So, did it start with Katha only or is it Mission Over Mars? You won’t believe, we met on Katha’s set for the first time and you are right we both acted in Mission Over Mars also without even knowing it. We were really not aware of each other’s presence in MoM as we didn’t have any scenes together. Its only while shooting for Katha, we discovered this fact.
Since there are so many females on the set of Kathaa..Ankahee, is there any competition or insecurity among all?
Well, I don’t want to sound politically correct but frankly speaking, nothing like that happens. Infact, we are always appreciating each other so much. We are so happy about each other that there is no such thing like competition or insecurity or anything like that.
Apart from Katha Ankahee, you are doing Do Chutki Sindoor also. Tell me about that.
It’s a Shashi-Sumeet productions with whom I did my very first daily soap i.e. Shaadi Mubaarak. I play a negative character in the serial who is Bua of the main lead. It has been a great experience so far and the best thing is that I was locked for a positive character but during the workshops, the director thought that I would be able to pull off negative character very well. So, the character I’m playing in Do Chutki Sindoor is of a woman who is very greedy, mean and cunning and can go to any extent to prove her point. And I must say that i am having a great time with my co-actors.
Is there any particular character you want to play on screen?
As such, I don’t plan things and I’m always content with what I do. But yes having said that, I would love to play a cop or a don type character, a powerful character that can scare people. (and she laughs)
Which are you favourite childhood serials?
Pallavi Joshi’s Aarohan which was about a girl who joins Navy was very inspiring. Another one was Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai. And out of current serials, I love watching Asif Shekh and Deelip Joshi in Bhabhi ji Ghar Par Hain and Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma. One strange thing, I would like to mention here is that shooting of Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma is happening in Filmcity where I shoot for Katha but I never feel like going there.. why..because somewhere I have this belief that the society exists somewhere in reality and I don’t want to break that myth. So, that’s the level of liking and attachment with this serial.
Who are your favourite actors both on Television and films?
My all time favourite actor is Sridevi. She is one actor whom I have, grown up watching. Infact, my way of understanding a character, emoting and performing, the essence is somewhere or the other, inspired by one and only Sridevi. She has not only inspired me professionally but she’s had a great impact on my personality as well.
Bryan Lee Cranston is another actor, I appreciate a lot. I watched his series Breaking Bad on my brother’s insistence. This actor, I feel is the most fabulous performer I have ever seen in my life. If ever I got a chance to play such character, I would definitely take his reference.
What message you have for your fans who appreciate you so much?
I am so grateful and overwhelmed with the love, the audience shower on me, when they complement me and even when they send me hate messages because somewhere, all this convinces me that I have played my part well. And in that case, whether my audience loves or hates the character I play, I am always grateful that they are with me, I am always grateful that I am being appreciated for doing what I love doing the most. And I will always try my best to entertain my lovely audience.