Chahatt Khanna, known for her roles in daily soaps like Bade Acche Lagte Hai, Qubool Hai and others, is now a popular face of music videos. Recently, she was promoting her latest song Rula Rahe Ho with Rohan Gandotra and people were quick to assume that they are in a relationship. In the past too, Chahatt has been linked with Rohan.
In an exclusive chat with PeepingMoon, the actress put all the speculations to rest and denied being in a relationship with the actor. Talking to us, Chahatt opened up about signing music videos, cutting herself off from television and dealing with the trauma of bad marriages.
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Excerpts from the interview:
You have shifted your attention towards music videos. Any particular reason?
Yes, I have shifted my focus to music videos because I am also coming up with something of my own which is similar. Music singles and videos are falling in my lap. I have been a choosy actor and if I like a particular song, I go ahead with it.
Have you decided to cut yourself off from television?
I haven’t cut myself off from television deliberately. I don't relate to the concepts TV has to offer to the audience and in that case, I cannot work in shows I don't personally believe in. I have been offered shows like Naagin but I turned it down because of the same reason. Though it is a blockbuster franchise, I don't relate to it. I cannot call myself a big method actor and don't wish to cross my limits and experiment. If something as good as Bade Acche Lagte Hai is offered to me, I’ll definitely do it.
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Have you given web shows a thought?
Yes, I am doing a web series called Kathputli and we completed the first schedule. Rohan Gandotra and I are paired opposite each other in it. The second schedule will start in January 2022.
There is a lot of noise about your relationship with Rohan Gandotra...
Yes, there is a lot of noise about my relationship with Rohan. People also linked me up with Mika Singh, but there was nothing as such. Now, people have forgotten about it. With Rohan, there is nothing cooking up. We are friends for the last 1 and a half years. We have collaborated, professionally, that's why people are seeing us together often.
You went through traumatic marriages. How did you get out of it?
The trauma of bad marriages can still be felt but it is better that I don’t talk much about it. Bohot ho gaya ab. People know me because of this and I don’t want anyone to recognise me due to my past and bad personal relationships. I am here to work, that's how people should know me and not for my personal affairs.
You are a single mother. How do you manage to balance children and work?
Touchwood, I am managing work life and children well. God has been kind to me. Currently, I am not going to the office daily and whenever time permits, I take them out and over pamper them a little so that when I am not at home, they are sane and understand that their mother is working. I often take my daughters to the office, which is just 5 minutes away from my house. That’s not a problem but when I go out of Mumbai or India for work, then it becomes an issue. But now, the kids have grown up, so I don't fret much.
Society is unkind to single mothers and divorcees. Are you hopeful that the scenario will change over the years?
India aur humari society mein shaadi 1 ghante mein ho jaati hai, but divorce ko 4-5 saal. That's what I faced miserably. I feel people have become more conservative after the community of trollers took over. Yeh log kahan se aate hai aur kya karte hai? Honestly, I don't care whether society will change and allow women to live freely. Is society feeding me? Are people from society with me during bad times? I don't know what's society. For me, it’s all about my family and close friends.
In June this year, you spoke about facing financial difficulties. Has the situation for you improved now?
It was not only about facing financial problems. I spoke about a lot of things. The purpose behind that tweet was I wanted work. People feel I have a lot of money as I am the owner of a brand and have an office in Dubai. They assume that I don't need work. On the contrary, I am an actor and need work. Mujhe bolna padta hai ki mere paas utna paisa nahi hai.
After that tweet, I started getting work. For almost 3 years, nobody offered me work. After Prassthanam, I had no work. I was offered TV shows and Bigg Boss. I cannot do Bigg Boss because I am not willing to leave my children and dedicate three months to the show. In Prassthanam, I was overweight as that was the character's requirement. Now, I have shed the extra kilos. But people want to put me in one bracket after the film. I am not someone who wants to play the roles of chachi and mami because I don’t look like that. One of the reasons why I am not doing TV shows is 5-6 mahine mein lead actress ko boodha bana dete hai.
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