Can’t portray something I don’t believe in: Pariva Pranati

Having worked in several TV shows in last 16 years, actor Pariva Pranati feels the small screen has several merits over other mediums.

“I always believed that a good TV show is better than a bad film,” says the actor who has made a comeback after a five-year maternity break. She was last seen playing lead in Humari Sister Didi (2015).

Pariva is happy that OTT too has started streaming family shows. Comparing both the mediums, she says, “We are getting some great content on web and people are readily experimenting on it more as compared to television. Some good family shows are playing on web but still most of its content is not suitable for a family watch so that way TV has an edge over other mediums.”

Telling us about her choice of work, she says, “I have always tried to be away from regular saas-bahu shows. Before going on maternity break, my last show was HSD and that too had a very different concept. Now, when I was thinking about resuming work and I was offered Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey which originally had been a legendary show, so I was all game for it.”

However, she is not happy with the state of daily soaps. She says, “On TV, barring a few, all shows look similar. One ideal bahu who is full of goodness and a negative saas…I don’t relate to such stories! How can someone be either black or white? So, I have problem with such shows and characters that are nowhere relatable. I can’t portray something that I don’t believe in.”

For Pariva medium is not an issue. She just wants to explore everything that challenges her acting abilities.

Having braved the second pandemic wave, she is relieved that things are back on track now. “We had huge problems in April when some team members tested positive, shooting was stalled, and we moved out to a resort. But now, we are back with safety measures in place and seniors Aanjjan sir (Srivastav) and Bharati (Achrekar) mam are back on sets.”

She was born in Patna but has spent her childhood in Lucknow. “My father was in India Air Force, so he was posted in Memora Air Base on Sitapur Road. I lived for six year and my initially schooling was done there only. So, the city is very special for me as my first memories are from Lucknow. I would now like to revisit the city with my son Rushank, 4,” she says.