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Navi Mumbai News: Vashi2Panvel.com: October 11: The latest in the saas bahu soaps is Ba Bahu Aur Baby. The saas bahu has all the ingredients of a family drama with a refreshing difference. With veteran actors like Sarita Joshi, Rajeev Mehta, Deven Bhojani, JD Majethia, and other lovable characters like Rajesh Kumar (Roshesh from Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai), and child artists Benaaf (Baby) in the show, the initial audience was guaranteed.

To top it all, they had a Gujarati joint family and their ups and downs. A highly bankable strategy, as is reflected in the popularity of the show, in the last two months. The makers obviously hit bulls eye, following suit their previous serials, Instant Khichdi, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, and Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai.

Not many know that Benaaf (Baby) - the soft target physically challenged protagonist was actually a child artist who started out with a children‘s movie Halo when she was seven years old. “After Halo I did a couple of ads, plays, and serials like Hello Dollie too, but I guess I am getting noticed now, because this is a prime time and a lead role on a well known channel”, she says with the same childishness she exudes on screen.

Ask her about the journey from acting in Halo almost 12 years back, till date and she sighs, “I’d say it’s been a mad long journey, but very satisfying, though I have miles to go.”
And yes, she has her designs on films as well, but prefers not to speak about them till she lands herself some good projects. Good girl, Benaaf.

Rajesh Kumar who essays the character of Roshesh in Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai is very happy to be part of Ba, Bahu Baby too. He is not complaining getting into another comedy. “I want to experiment with other roles too, but this was too good to ignore.”

The cast apparently treats Benaaf like their baby on the sets too. Benaaf considers ‘Meenakshi bhabhi’ a pal though. “She is not very elderly and a chiller, so it's fun being with her”, she says.

Sarita Joshi (Ba), a renowned theatre artist, is probably like icing on the cake for the serial. The lady, agrees she is very much like her character on screen, a disciplinarian. “I am very punctual. If I call someone for an interview at seven, and that person turns up at 7:30, then I refuse to speak, because I have wasted half an hour. Similarly when I am called for any shoot at a particular time, I am always there bang on time”, she states. And her best buddy from the cast? “I can’t say because I know most of the cast since long, as we have done theatre together. It is fun working with Deven (Gattu) and your Praveena bhabhi”, laughs Sarita Joshi. “The atmosphere on the sets is very cool, and fun loving.”

When asked for her take on the other soaps, Sarita Joshi claims she has no opinion on the other never-ending saas bahu dramas on television. “I am an artist, and I cannot comment on other artist’s works. And frankly speaking I don’t have the time to watch television too. The little time that I get, I prefer watching English movies on HBO”, she says. The serials she likes are “Astitva and Kyunki..., which was very interesting when it started”, she states.

The serial is another addition to ‘women oriented’ stories on television. Women are ruling television. Be it a Tulsi, Parvati, Prerna, or as in this case, Ba and Baby –the protagonists, women rock the household dramas. They do a pretty decent job as well, excusing the times they act like ritualistic ladies from the 15th century, crying over meaningless issues, rather than doing something about the issue bothering them.

Not to forget the vamps. They are doing such a great job, we don’t miss Shashikala any more. Another advantage is that the Ladies don’t have to go to a designer anymore. All they have to do is watch the endless stream of ladies in these soaps and imagine they’re walking the ramp for them. And lo! They have a variety to choose from. Komolika’s bindis, Sudha Chandrans style of applying lipstick, the way Prerna drapes her sarees, all they have to do is watch and replicate. Not a bad bargain.


Sujata Reddy