Rohini Hattangadi: Need to learn and adapt with time
What's the story
Veteran actor Rohini Hattangadi, who has forayed into the digital world with Gujarati web series Kshadyantra, says for her, it is all about adapting and moving with time.
The political thriller, directed by Urvish Parikh, revolves around a chief minister, played by Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi star Apara Mehta, and the power games around her.
New medium
OTT has better roles for actors my age: Hattangadi
As one of the most respected names in the world of theater, films, and television, Hattangadi, 70, said the new medium has better and diverse roles for actors of her age.
"You have to learn all the time, it never stops. Like, I didn't have a simple phone at my home before Richard Attenborough's legendary 1982 film Gandhi," Hattangadi said.
Adaptation
We all keep learning something all our lives: Hattangadi
"As artists, we started from radio or theater and moved to TV, films, and now to OTT platforms, that's the change we have witnessed," she said.
"So, we need to learn and adapt to new things, everything is changing rapidly. Even in terms of acting, we all keep learning something all our lives," the National Film Award and BAFTA winner added.
Experiment
Hattangadi believes that digital medium, by nature, is experimental
The actor said while one gets slotted in cinema and television, the digital medium, by its nature, is experimental.
In films, for me, it was always (the role of) a mother. The producers always want to play safe in films primarily because of the money they invest, so they often go with what's successful, she said.
Role
Hattangadi plays a wheelchair-bound media baron in 'Kshadyantra'
"I don't think OTT or web-series have that kind of fear whether it will run or not at the box office. So they want to experiment," she said.
In Kshadyantra, she plays the role of Vasanti, a wheelchair-bound media baron and sister of chief minister Pannaben Patel, played by Mehta.
Hattangadi said she joined the show because of writer Babul Bhavsar.
Other details
Shooting didn't require much time: Hattangadi
"The writer, Babul Bhavsar, is a very good friend of mine and he told me about this show. Since I know him and his work, I know he will not offer me anything that is substandard," the actor said.
"Hence I took this up. Besides, in terms of shooting, it didn't require much of my time," she added.