On Renuka Shahane's Birthday Eve, Lehren brings to you an exclusive throwback interview of this versatile actress, where she opens up about her St. Xavier's college days, theatre plays, early shows like PC Aur Mausi (Doordarshan), Lifeline, Circus, Surabhi & Many More... The mesmerizing Marathi lady reveals how she got selected for Salman Khan's Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), which is amongst Bollywood's biggest blockbusters till date. Shahane also elaborates upon the experience of featuring in lead roles in serials like Imtihaan, Junoon, Ghutan, Sailaab, Antakshari, Kora Kagaz, 9 Malabar Hills & other popular daily soaps. Renuka gets candid on her marriage & bonding with multitalented husband Ashutosh Rana in turn commenting on her kids, family, cooking skills and a lot more! Watch this jolly chit-chat session only on your favourite digital destination, Lehren Retro. #renukashahane #renukashahanebirthday #humaapkehainkoun #salmankhan #circus #ashutoshrana #korakagaz #9malabarhills #imtihaan #junoon #sailaab
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00:30So, I got very interested in the process of theatre.
00:34And then Pandit Satyadev Dubey was doing a play in which he asked me to act and that's how
00:38I got into doing theatre.
00:40And I've been in television for the last 20 years now.
00:43So 20 years ago, television was a very new medium.
00:46And the people who used to do theatre used to also do TV.
00:49So for my first serial, I was called by Jayant Kriplani, who was a theatre person.
00:55And he auditioned me and I got my first role.
00:57The first time I faced the camera was for a serial called PC or Mosse.
01:01And it was a breakfast serial for Durdarshan.
01:03And that was in 1987.
01:05And after that, I assisted Vijaya Mehta for Lifeline, in which I also acted because she
01:12said, if you want to do it, you can act too.
01:14So that's the way.
01:16I was not serious about taking up acting as a profession because I was very happy doing
01:21my psychology in Xavier's.
01:23Then I did my MA in clinical psychology and after that I had taken a break of one year
01:27because I wanted to do my Ph.D. and before I did my Ph.D. I needed some time to think
01:32about it.
01:33At that time, I got the offer for a circus.
01:36Aziz Mirza and Kundanjha asked me to perform in their serial.
01:41And in fact, that was a life changing experience for me because at that time they asked me to
01:46become a professional actress rather than go back to studying.
01:50So that's the reason why I chose this as a professional.
01:54So it happened to me by chance.
01:56And then when I took it up professionally, I came back and got a portfolio done and gave
02:02it for advertisements and to producers and stuff like that.
02:05And I got a lot of ad offers.
02:07And people saw me on television.
02:09And then whatever offers followed afterwards were because they liked me on television.
02:14So in that sense, circus was the beginning point for me, followed by Surabhi.
02:19Then while I was doing Surabhi, I got the offer for Hamaapkehainkon, which was like a very
02:23big film.
02:25And after that film, then I did very few films because I was so busy with television and I
02:30was so happy doing TV that I didn't feel the need to do too many films.
02:35And Hamaapkehainkon was like a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity and role and people.
02:40So I was very spoilt working in Hamaapkehainkon, unless the people or the role or that was
02:46not special.
02:47I didn't want to do the film.
02:49So I was sticking to television and I'm very happy doing TV.
02:52But still you and Hamaapkehainkon, you made a moat like, you know, how was the experience
03:00like what after that film you got the response from the directors of the film?
03:05No, the response was incredible because it was such a fabulous role for me and it was
03:11a super hit film.
03:12So obviously the tag of, you know, a hit film is, you know, attached to you.
03:18So you are considered a lucky actor or actress.
03:21But I didn't find any interesting roles because all the kinds of roles that were offered to
03:25me were of, you know, the same kind of good bhabhi, good behen.
03:30And after doing it in Hamaapkehainkon, I didn't want to repeat myself.
03:33So that's the reason why I was sticking to television where I was getting challenging roles
03:36to do and main roles to do, you know.
03:39In television, it's a woman's medium.
03:41So I have always got the cream of the roles.
03:44And so I never felt like actually doing films because you always end up being somebody's
03:48something in films, you know.
03:49While in television, you're like, you're the main protagonist.
03:53So that's the reason why after Hamaapkehainkon, I did Imtihaan, Junoon, Ghutan, Sehlaap, Klozapandakshri,
04:00and Korakagaz, Khaamoshiyaankaptak, Naein Malabarhil, a lot of serials.
04:05I was very busy with that.
04:07Then I got married in 2001.
04:10And after that, I took a break because I, after one year, I gave birth to my first son,
04:14Sharyam, and he's four years old.
04:17And after two years, my second son was born, Satya Indra.
04:20He's two years now.
04:21So I had decided that I'm not going to work when they are very little.
04:26And then I got this offer for Jeetai Hai, which is for Sony Entertainment Television.
04:31And I took it up because I said five years is a long enough gap to stay away from work.
04:35As you told me, five years gap and like come back.
04:38Like, I used to call a medium before, the television was actually different.
04:42It's actually commercial.
04:44So what do you, what do you found like coming back after five years, this, this as an actress,
04:48professional actress, this television industry, how much it has changed?
04:52It has changed incredibly.
04:53I think television has really become a mini version of films in terms of glamour, money
04:59and everything.
05:00When I was doing it five years ago, it was a very real medium.
05:03People could identify even middle class, lower middle class people could identify with the
05:07problems that were shown on screen.
05:09Now it is like, you know, the more glamour there is, the better people want to see big
05:14houses, lovely clothes, people dressed up all the time.
05:17And the content also is like very similar, you know, because you have to churn out dailies.
05:22How many stories can you possibly tell?
05:24So there is all that.
05:26But I have a feeling that for me as an actress, it's a challenge doing a daily because in the
05:30weeklies, like, you know, you tend to get stagnant after doing it for 15 years.
05:36I found that in Kura Kagaz, I was stagnating as an actress.
05:39So I required that break, you know, now I'm kind of refreshed.
05:41So I'm back in Jeetai Jais ke liye with a like refreshed view of acting.
05:46And I'm still learning because I've never done a daily, I'm still learning to give the
05:49same kind of intensity, the same kind of quality of work, but in very little time.
05:55So that's something that I'm still coming to terms with.
05:59I mean, it's not very easy.
06:00And I really admire the people who are doing it day in and day out and doing it very well.
06:04But for me to achieve that finish, I think it'll take a bit of time.
06:08I'm just going to tell you, I can come back, like, you know, you were noticed, the people
06:12were actually noticed Roenipaadji as because of her smile.
06:16Oh, yes.
06:17And how do you want to give that thing back to your audience?
06:21No, I think that if you're playing any character, parts of you are always reflected.
06:28Because that's how you, you know, kind of make it as convincing and natural as possible.
06:32And yet you're trying to do something different than what you are as a person to establish another
06:37character.
06:38Like the character I'm playing, Anjali Dhanrajger.
06:40And there's a very happy goal of a person, very bubbly, very vivacious.
06:43So I think the people are going to get to see my smile in all those scenes that, you know,
06:49and where the problem is, they're doing a lot.
06:53They'll get to see both the extremes, you know, crying and laughing.
06:56After getting a favor, like, you know, after studies, you suddenly, as in professional career,
07:01you have taken your acting.
07:02Yes.
07:03After that, a normal person, a normal person, a normal person, a known actress, because of
07:09a professional actress, because of the good characters she has played in her career.
07:14How do you get a normal relationship with your friends and friends?
07:19No, I get the biggest compliment that people think that they can take home, like, our mom
07:26and aunties.
07:27And they identify with me basically because I'm not outstandingly beautiful, outstandingly
07:33exceptional.
07:34Nothing like that.
07:35I'm an ordinary girl.
07:36I'm watching that.
07:37And I'm working on TV, which is considered a glamorous profession.
07:42So they find me very approachable.
07:44They can come up to me and say what they feel about my performances.
07:48And they sometimes also tell me that you're like my daughter or sister.
07:52And I think that's incredible to have that kind of warmth with the audience, that kind
07:56of attachment.
07:57I think it's a great compliment for me.
07:59What kind of success have you taken as a woman or as a professional actress or as a good
08:05human?
08:06No, I think the biggest success would be if people would say that I'm a good person.
08:13Because I think that is bigger than anything that you do in life.
08:16And that dictates what you do in life also.
08:18I used to always feel that all good actors should definitely be good human beings.
08:23It's not that I'm not that.
08:24I don't think that's the same thing.
08:25But I'm trying to become more and more good human beings.
08:30And I'm also trying to inculcate the same values in my sons.
08:35So I think that whatever profession you are in life, you should be the biggest person.
08:41You should see how good you are or bad you are.
08:44So I think one should strive to become better human beings.
08:48Definitely.
08:49What kind of success are you targeting now?
08:53See, I always would like to play things which I have not played before.
08:56Even in Anjali Dhanrajgir, I have found something which I have not done before.
08:59And it's very rare to get those kinds of roles.
09:02Because those and those stories are repeated.
09:04So Kirdar is also repeated.
09:06But after Anjali Dhanrajgir, I think again I'll have to take a break.
09:10Because I think that after an hour, I think that my family needs to be a need for my family.
09:15So I'm not really actually planning anything.
09:18We will see what offers we are getting.
09:22In the family, we are very much attached to your husband.
09:25Especially the kids.
09:26How do you spend time when you are at home?
09:28We are basically home people.
09:30We don't have a lot of interest in the party.
09:33So we stay at home.
09:34If you have to come to your friends, they will take their children.
09:37Or we will take their children to their homes.
09:39So it's a whole family space.
09:42There is no...
09:43If I think that I need to spend time at home, it is always with my husband and my children.
09:49We don't go to the house much outside.
09:52So it's all related to home activities.
09:54And if we have to go for a holiday, then we take the kids out.
09:57And then we have a great time on the beach or whatever that they enjoy.
10:01But otherwise, basically very simple people.
10:04Our living is very simple.
10:06Our thinking is very simple.
10:07And I think that's why we have a lot of love among us.
10:10A lot of warmth.
10:11Sir, we are a professional actor.
10:13And even you are a professional actor.
10:14But after marriage, what changes have you and Sir?
10:17How much of a bromance is there?
10:19I think that we always improve ourselves.
10:24Because he is an incredible actor.
10:26I think he is outstanding.
10:28And his inputs about my acting always help me to perform better.
10:32And I think that the drive and passion that he has for acting, I lack.
10:36I am not Mahatwa Kangshi.
10:37I am not very ambitious.
10:38So when I look at those ambitions,
10:41I think it is very important for me as an actress to get that drive in me.
10:45So I am trying to get that drive in me.
10:49And he is very aggressive.
10:51So I think he is slightly mellowed down.
10:56So we do help each other.
10:59And the best thing about us both is that being from the same profession,
11:03we are actors and yet we have absolutely no egos among us.
11:06If there is something that I need to criticize in his acting,
11:08he takes it in a very positive manner.
11:10Because we both believe that more than love,
11:13it is the respect that we have towards each other
11:17that is the main foundation of our relationship.
11:19What about him?
11:20He is a good supporter or a good critic about your…
11:23I think he finds my acting very good.
11:27I mean, he has always been very positive about my acting.
11:30In fact, he always says you wouldn't have been my wife
11:32if you weren't a good actress.
11:34So that is always very nice to hear.
11:38But of course, there are scenes or some things
11:40where he finds that something is lacking.
11:42He will definitely talk to me about that.
11:44If you will ask about the two kids.
11:46What do you like at home?
11:48What do you like at home?
11:51What do you like at home?
11:52I feel like they have a lot of fun.
11:54I don't like them.
11:56Because I can't really enter that.
11:58But if they are drawing or if they are doing any activity
12:01or if I am storytelling or if they are performing something for me
12:04or acting, play acting or even eating well,
12:08I think for me those moments are the best moments.
12:10You know, they tell stories about what happened in the day.
12:14And that is so incredibly sweet.
12:16I mean, I really miss them when I come to work.
12:19Ma'am, are you a good cook?
12:20Yes, I am.
12:21What is the best dish you can do?
12:24We are vegetarians basically.
12:25So, vegetarian food, whatever food I can make,
12:29I can make Chinese food too.
12:31But I feel like I make a lot of good food.
12:34People like it.
12:35And pulaos and even different types of rotis and stuff like parathas.
12:41Which is your best dish you prefer to eat?
12:45Oh, me?
12:46I am a very simple kind of person.
12:49I like bindi a lot.
12:51So, simple bindi with dhaniya and amchura I like a lot.
12:55And I like rotis.
12:57I am not a rice eating person.
12:59So, rotis and meathe, I like everything.
13:02I like meat a lot.
13:04But I can't eat it because I have to control a little weight.
13:08Okay, ma'am.
13:09There are so many designers like in this industry,
13:13especially whether you can say the television industry or the film industry.
13:16What do you prefer when you go for the shopping?
13:18Like a normal street shopping or designer?
13:21No, I have normal shopping also I do.
13:24Like you know for jeans or casual t-shirts, shirts and skirts and stuff like that.
13:29It's very normal.
13:30Even sometimes chudidar kameezes I kind of just pick up whatever that is there in the normal malls.
13:35But sometimes I go in for designer stuff.
13:38I love Ritu Kumar's work.
13:39I mean I wear a lot of her salwar kameezes.
13:41Even her saree blouses I love.
13:43So, there are some designers who I am quite partial to.
13:46And I think Ritu Kumar is one of my best designers.
13:48In the television industry,
13:50you have been kept in five years earlier.
13:52But you will definitely notice something in that channel.
13:56And in the directors,
13:58which one best serial you found?
14:00And which one best character you found?
14:03I think that when I was watching television in five years,
14:08I used to love that.
14:11And I loved Nikki Aneja's portrayal of Dr. Simran in that.
14:15So, that character I think was a very well rounded,
14:18very well etched character and very well performed also.
14:21So, I was very happy with that.
14:23I loved that serial also.
14:24And I loved her performance also.
14:26Do you believe that nowadays more of a kind
14:29Saas Bahu, Saas Bahu, Saas Bahu serials are?
14:31So, do you want to be involved or do you want to do something with them?
14:34No, it's not that.
14:35I have said that if there is a character in which I have seen shades
14:40that I have never played in any character,
14:42then I don't have any interest in Saas Bahu drama.
14:44Because after all, they are telling a story
14:46which is like any other story.
14:48But for me, it's an advantage that in Jeete Hain
14:51that I don't have to do that typical Saas Bahu drama.
14:54It's a Spanish formatted show.
14:56So, that's why the characters sound and feel slightly different from the run of the mill.
15:02So, I'm very happy doing that.
15:04But if offers of that sort come to me
15:06and if I find the character interesting, I'm sure I'll play that character.
15:09What interest you more you found in this Jeete Hain?
15:12See, first of all, the girl is an orphan.
15:14She's never seen her parents.
15:16And she comes into a very rich family
15:19and she tries to bring the family together like all good bahoos.
15:22But what is different is that her one dream is that
15:25the mother that she didn't get in life,
15:27she wants to give her love to her children.
15:31And she doesn't get children for a very long time.
15:33So, those emotions that she wants to be a mother,
15:36but she doesn't want to be a mother.
15:37And after that, when she becomes a child,
15:39there is a situation in her life.
15:42So, what I found interesting was that within the story itself,
15:44there is one Anjali pre that haatsa,
15:45and one Anjali post that haatsa,
15:46which are two different personalities.
15:48So, what about the director of this scene?
15:50What about the director of this scene?
15:52So, what I found interesting was that within the story itself,
15:55there is one Anjali pre that haatsa,
15:58and one Anjali post that haatsa,
15:59which are two different personalities.
16:01So, what about the director of this scene?
16:04What about the directors?
16:05The directors are changing.
16:06Yes, but today, the television is no longer a director's medium.
16:10Unfortunately, it was at one point in time.
16:12Today, we can't talk about the directors,
16:14because they are changing every day.
16:16So, we have changed three of them.
16:18In the couple of years,
16:19I've changed dramatically.
16:20What made you do this?
16:21Like, what's interesting for you,
16:24especially for you about the characters?
16:25Yes.
16:26What made you give a sudden thought?
16:28I want to come back with that.
16:29See, I also felt that Tony D.A. Singh,
16:31who are the producers,
16:32do something, that is slightly hatke.
16:34They have never done run of the mill work.
16:36So, it was a pleasure for me to kind of be associated with them.
16:39So our cast is fabulous. We have an excellent cast of people who are actors.
16:44There are no just people who are popular. They are actors of worth.
16:48And so it's important because acting is after all reacting.
16:51If you don't have good acting in front of a person, you want to try whatever you want.
16:55You can't do better than you can do, if you are good in front of a person.
16:59So I'm lucky to have all my co-actors. They are excellent actors.
17:03So my reaction will be good.
17:06So the smile of the television industry is getting back in front of a person.
17:12So tell me, how many offers you are getting in?
17:17These phones are coming, but I can't take them.
17:19Because I want to concentrate on that.
17:22And I just want to get back up with my children.
17:26So I am not the kind of person who will go from one set to another.
17:30This is not my personality.
17:33So I am not going to do anything else.
17:37Any message to the audience?
17:39Well, I'd like to say to the audience that I'm so happy that all of you watch us on television.
17:45And please, please do watch my serial.
17:47And if you like it, please respond to it. Give us feedback.
17:51And also, I would say to all the youngsters, keep away from drugs.
17:55Please, please, please. Life is too important and too short.
17:59Thank you all.
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