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Ever seen an actress whose screen image is that of a total softie? Before you scoff and say… what else have we been seeing on television lately, let me complete the question. Have you seen an actress who is just the same off-screen too? I have. Jyoti Mukherjee.

The lead star in Prratima. Also the wife of the serial’s producer, Raja Mukherjee. And the real-life sister-in-law of superstar Rani Mukherjee.

Jyoti Mukerjee is one of a kind. For some reason you expect her to show up in a saree. She alights from her car and walks towards her make-up room, sporting black baggy cotton pants, and a black and white fitting shirt, with no traces of make up on her round face. After a brief hi- hello session, her hair dresser and make up man barge in and take over. “Can we do the interview while I do my make-up?” she asks guilelessly. Of course…

Tell her the masses hardly know anything about her, and ask her how she manages to keep such a low profile, despite playing the lead role in Prratima and she softly says that she has always been media shy. Most people don’t even know that she is Rani Mukerjee’s sister-in-law. It looks like she is living her onscreen role, isn’t it? She laughs, gently of course. “You can say that, it’s 2 years now that I am playing Prratima.”

She sounds as meek as Prratima does on screen. Wouldn’t she stand up for what she believed in either? She smiles gently, “Prratima is not like that anymore, I think she is rocking, unlike me. I prefer to keep quiet when people bug me, let them do what they want, I simply don’t react. But”, suddenly widening her eyes, “if they cross their limits, they’ve had it. Then I will terrorize them.” She spoils the effect completely by bursting into laughter.

Knock – knock. Enters an old friend, and our conversation grinds to a halt. Their conversation drifts to weight shedding. Jyoti looks horrified while declaring, “These days I think I put on weight even if I look or think about food. I really envy my hair dresser, she just doesn’t put on weight.”

Sigh! Poor little rich girl. She diets often? “I don’t really diet. If I see ice-cream on the table I will have a few spoons, and leave the rest. I don’t let myself crave for any dish. But I won’t over indulge either.” Healthy eating, healthy living.

Considering the reigning superstar (Rani Mukerjee) is her sister-in-law, isn’t Jyoti going to try her luck in films? “I am looking forward to doing simple roles, like a sister, or friend kind of roles, because I am a married woman. I don’t think I will be able to handle both full-time jobs otherwise.”

Talking about marriage, was hers an arranged or love marriage? “It was a blend of both. Raja and I knew and liked each other since our college days. And our families were more than eager to allow us to tie the knot,” she blushes. Hmm.. when did acting happen then? “Acting happened after marriage, five years back. My husband is always pushing me to go out and work and not sit idling at home. I never thought I would ever act.”

However hard you try to resist, you land up popping the question to her. Does she gel well with dearest sis-in-law ? “We were family friends since long. So we knew each other even before I was married. Rani and I just clicked. Yes, we gel. Everybody wants to know how things are between Rani and me. Things are just fine”, says Jyoti exasperatedly.

Now you know why the saans-bahu soaps are such a big hit with the audience, don’t you? “True”, she laughs and walks away, looking completely different from what did, two hours earlier, now draped in a baby pink cotton saree, with hair flowing down to her waist, face glowing with foundation and eyes resembling Kali’s (overflowing with kaajal and mascara). Don’t laugh… she looked like a Bengali goddess alright. Just like a Prratima….

Sujata Anthony Reddy, Correspondent, V2P