Exclusive – #Tellyblazer: Tanya Sharma on not doing web shows because of bold content, ‘I have a boundary for myself and I won’t cross that’

Tanya Sharma, who is seen in the role of Reema Narayan in Sasural Simar Ka 2, is our Tellyblazer this week. ETimes TV spoke exclusively to Tanya, who is currently shooting in Agra for the show. The 25-year-old actress talks about her decade-long journey, viral meme ‘Rasode me kaun tha’, romancing Amar Upadhyay in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya and also the time when she was called the ‘Fumble Queen’. Did you know this before? The young and talented Tanya speaks her heart out.You have many hit shows in your kitty, do you feel blessed to be a part of these shows which became popular, or you chose the roles very wisely?Honestly, every role… especially Meera’s role in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, I don’t know how I got it. Even Reema’s role in SSK2, I don’t know how I bagged it. All shows are with Rashmi (Sharma) ma’am. I never thought I will get these roles. I have been a child artiste. I have given so many auditions. Every time one role ends, the struggle begins to bag the next one. But I feel blessed to have these roles in my kitty, which I have done in the past. Sometimes, when you give too many auditions and keep getting rejected, you feel disheartened and then I didn’t give my best for Saathiya – my first big break. I even told the casting director, ‘Why do you call me for auditions, I won’t get selected.’ But then to my surprise, I got selected for Saathiya. Even Sasural happened like this. I wasn’t sure, which show is it. I just know it’s with Rashmi Ma’am. And that time, I felt I should go for it. And next day I got selected. I just feel this character in Sasural Simar Ka will go beyond Meera (Her role in SNS). It’s been quite many years now doing that show and people still call me Meera. That kind of importance Saathiya has in everyone’s life.You have completed over a decade in the industry at a young age, how would you look back?

I feel truly blessed. I have seen many people, who struggle for years and not get a role and some get a role and then don’t get work. In my case, I may not have been very passionate about acting, but dancing initially. I won’t talk about my roles in childhood but the first effective role was in Afsar Bitiya. I was playing Chanchal and it was an important role. That time, all my co-actors would call me ‘Fumble Queen’. It was my first important show and I couldn’t say my dialogues properly. The language was Bihari and I wasn’t so fluent. I learnt there that if you have learned or improved even a little bit, you have achieved something as an actor. I believe in never stop learning. Every character has given me something. The journey has been long and difficult but God has been very kind. Last two years, I sat in my house because I chose that for myself. Now I am so passionate about working that I want to give my 200 % in whatever scene I do.

Why were you called a ‘Fumble Queen’ and how did you overcome all your setbacks?

I was very young, very naïve. When I used to be called a ‘Fumble Queen’ I never took it to my heart. That time, acting was just a hobby for me. I wanted to become a businesswoman. And also they didn’t say it in a negative way to bring me down. They were all elder to me and taught me. After that show, I did Mahadev and had to do romantic scenes. And I didn’t experience it in real life and had to portray it on-screen. Those were the challenges. But as an actor you need to know it all. Romancing on-screen was very difficult for me, then learning dialogues in pure Hindi, Bihari was also challenging. My mom helped me a lot. With this learning experience, by the time I got Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, I was so prepared… I would remember all lines be it from any angle. I always keep a learning attitude.

As you were passionate about dance, how did acting happen to you?

I would see my sister (Kreetika) go to shoots and my parents would tag along. I would visit her on holidays. I would see her in front of the camera. But the first time, when it hit me that I actually want to pursue acting was when she was doing the show Jai Shri Krishna. She was in Kolhapur and I would go there on my holidays. There I saw people touching her feet. She played the role of Radha. And I was like, ‘Oh my God. She is not real God. She is a character.’ But the love and emotions she got. I was blown away seeing the love she got and that really attracted me. Second reason was, my mom wanted both of us to earn name and fame. I got the interest seeing my sister and mother being so supportive towards us. She has been the backbone for both of us. I have always managed school and college. I am a post-graduate in PR. I would simultaneously go for shoot and exam. Our parents have been a big support. People recognise us as Sharma sisters and it makes us very happy.

On memes and trolls on social media

I haven’t been trolled as such but I have seen so many memes on Saath Nibhaana Saathiya… one where I am dancing and then while dancing I slap Vandana ji. That was very funny. Most of the scenes are from Saathiya are meme-worthy and they are quite funny. But when there is serious trolling, yes, it affects me. But then, I realised I get affected when I read them, so I stopped reading them. I am being very genuine.

Do you filter out or are you conscious what to post and not post on social media?

Seeing my crying video on Instagram… do you think I filter out? My friends ask me – ‘Kya kuch bhi daal deti hai Instagram me’ (Why you post whatever you feel like?) But that’s me – Tanya Sharma – vulnerable, emotional and sensitive. I want my people to know that this is me and I am not acting. I don’t feel that you only have to put hot or cute pictures and Instagram is not meant for that. It’s a platform to connect and show people your real side.

But what actually plays on your mind when you see memes are made on your show specially ‘Rasode me kaun tha’, which went viral last year?

I want that memes should be made. Imagine had Yashraj Mukhate had not made that meme, there would have not been Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 2. Honestly, that show wouldn’t have been made. The show went off-air a long time back. There are people, who have not seen the show but they know ‘Rasode mein kaun tha’ meme and the song. It’s a digital age. Why do you think people are coming on this platform and putting themselves out there? Everyone has Internet and a phone. Imagine how much we have advanced and all these memes and all are common. I enjoy them quite a lot.

Talking about digital age, have you consciously stayed away from web shows when most of the actors and youngsters are experimenting?

I am losing out on a lot of projects because of the requirement of intimate and bold scenes. I understand that when the makers write a story they have a mindset and a concept. Whenever I am approached for a role, I get pressurized when they give examples of other actors. But I have set a boundary for myself, and maybe I am not ready to cross that boundary yet. I am not comfortable doing any intimate scenes right now. So, I do not take up that kind of roles. That’s why I am doing Indian television, because it gives me the freedom to connect with millions of people and at the same time not crossing my limitations, which I have set for myself. It’s entertainment, reaching out to people and not cross my boundaries. That’s my thing. But I am not ready and I am not there yet.

You were paired opposite Amar Upadhyay in SNS and romanced him as well. That time, how did you mentally prepare yourself to romance an actor, who is much senior to you?

(Laughs) We all know, the jodi with Amar ji that time was a superhit jodi. I am so grateful to receive all the DMs on our jodi till now. But, when I had got to know about the scenes, I was shell-shocked. Not because he was opposite me, but I thought to myself ‘How will I do it?’ When it’s such a big show and the person you are paired opposite… you have no idea that you have to romance him… my mind was block. But the channel people, the creators and Rashami ma’am told me, ‘Trust us on this’. I trusted them. I remember the first scene was our close face shot on the song ‘Lahu Muh Lag Gaya’ and I was so scared. Meera’s character was so energetic and charismatic, I couldn’t shoot the scene with low on energy. So that was on my mind. And Amar ji made comfortable during the whole show. At the start, he would tell me to calm down and say ‘Tanya off, Meera on’. And after some days, I would have to keep up to his level, match him, because he is just amazing. He has helped me so much with the scenes. You had once said that ‘As soon as one enters their 20s, families start talking about marriage’. What are your thoughts? I am superbly single. In pandemic, you can’t get a boyfriend, you only spend time with your family. I did have plans when I was young that I would get getting married by 28, open a restaurant, travel and chill. Now, I don’t know what plans God has for me. But I would like to get married by 28-29.