Excited about my new role as casting director: Sandhya Mridul

New Delhi: Be it television, films or theatre, Sandhya Mridul has a mark with her performances over the years but now the actress has shifted focus to casting direction. The 36-year-old, who turned casting director with the recently released Dia Mirza-Zayed Khan starrer `Love Breakups Zindagi`, says she wants to infuse new talent into the industry. "I want to infuse fresh talent into the industry. Right now the industry is publicity-driven rather than talent. I am trying to give new people a chance, trying to make sure that talent is not wasted. There is a lot of raw stuff out there. They just need to be moulded well," Sandhya told PTI. `Love Breakups Zindagi`, which is the first film from Dia and Zayed`s production house, also stars Cyrus Sahukar and Tisca Chopra. "The producer (Sahil Sangha) asked me to cast myself in Tisca`s role in the film, but I resisted as I was not perfect for it. I will definitely cast myself in a film but only when I am sure that I fit the bill," she added. Sandhya, who has starred in popular films like `Saathiya`, `Page 3` and `Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd`, says she is not quitting films, but right now is too busy with her casting work. "I do want to act in films. But right now, my hands are full. I am focusing on my role as a casting director. If I am not getting to make an impact as an actress, then I am attacking from the other side," she joked. Sandhya, who was recently seen in John Abraham-starrer `Force`, said that strong, women-oriented roles are hardly written in Bollywood. "There is no scope for women oriented strong roles. I am not a glam doll and can`t be one. I like my acting, and that is the reason I will never cheat. I am an actor, so I enjoy acting rather than doing a movie. I am not competing with anyone here," Sandhya said. The actress is currently touring the country with Lilette Dubey directed play `August: Osage County`, presented by Ballantine`s. She plays the eldest daughter of a dysfunctional family which is plagued by complex mother-daughter relationships and sibling and spouse conflicts. Sandhya became a household name playing a married woman in Anurag Basu directed TV serial `Koshish - Ek Aashaa` a decade ago. She said that she does not mind returning to the small screen but will not settle for roles without substance. "I don`t mind playing the `bahu` but the role should have something to offer. I was fortunate to have worked with people like Imtiaz Ali, Sudhir Mishra, Anurag Basu in television. As soon as they left, I did too. "The problem is that they get success working with actors like us and after that they go with stars. Anurag (Basu) has got into the commercial mould. But the day he gets back to making films he believes in, I will definitely have a role to play in it," Sandhya said. PTI