PeepingMoon Exclusive: Content is master, if that's good, how does it matter if the protagonist is in her 20s or 40s- Delnaaz Irani

By Tanmayi Savadi

on February 21, 2022 08:41:58 PM

Calendars have changed and so has the format of storytelling. But one person has remained constant and is adapting to different styles and narratives. She is none other than Delnaaz Irani. Call her Kal Ho Naa Ho's Sweetu or Kabhi Kabhie Ittefaq Sey's Kiran Kulshreshth, she has entertained generations through various mediums.

In an exclusive interview with PeepingMoon, Delnaaz spoke about staying relevant over 29 years, trying various mediums, the chances she has been noticing in the entertainment industry and how women in their 40s can look out for meatier roles.

Excerpts from the interview:

You’ve been working in the industry for nearly 30 years. How has the journey been?

These 29 years have been fantastic despite ups and downs. The industry gave me the pleasure to pursue my hobby as my profession. Acting is something I love to do, so never saw it as a 'job'. Of course, I do have my own bad days but overall, it has been a beautiful journey.

You were among the first few actors to do films and TV. Was it easy to make the transition back then?

I never had this ambition of getting into films after doing television, I was happy with TV shows. However, now I am hearing from a lot of young actors that they wish to branch out. I am of this opinion that television is as big as Bollywood. It has to be understood that your audience is huge when you do television shows. Every medium has its own unique flavour and plus points.

What are the changes you are noticing in the television industry?

When I started off, there were fewer shows, lesser number of actors and everything was in proportion. Even travel time, there was no Naigaon (laughs). Over a period of time, the entire system has undergone a change which is a happy thing because people are trusting the industry. Earlier, there would be weekly shows and that required 8 hours of daily shoot. Now, with daily soaps, we have to put in 12-13 hours a day to churn out new episodes. While the grandeur is beautiful, we are far away from having quality safety measures. Back then, since everything was in proportion, health and safety was a priority. Now, all actors have to focus on is TRP and telecast. Having said that, the industry has progressed too and many are earning their bread and butter through this medium.

Earlier, middle-aged actresses rarely got meaty roles. Now, the scenario is changing. What’s your take on it?

As I said, there are positive changes in the industry too. For the longest time, women in their 20s would be considered for lead roles. Now, we are seeing women-centric content on TV, films and web. I believe content has to be the master and not gender of the protagonist. If your project is good, there is no need to worry whether the protagonist is in her 20s or 40s. I am seeing many production houses are approaching women in the early and late 40s. They are making us feel important.