Never thought of acting as a career: Pratyusha Banerjee

Pratyusha, who has won a million hearts after bagging the role of Anandi, says she had never thought of becoming an actress.

New Delhi: TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee, who has won a million hearts after bagging the lead role of Anandi in popular television show `Balika Vadhu`, says she had never thought of becoming an actress.

The 21-year-old stepped replaced Avika Gor to play the older Anandi when the soap took a leap of five years. She had been selected through a nationwide SMS poll. "I never thought of acting as a career and becoming an actress one day. But the glitz and glamour of the profession have always attracted me. I always wanted to become a model as a small kid but then my height was an issue. "Besides, having grown up in a conservative Bengali family, my mother has never encouraged such dreams of mine. But eventually, when I got selected through voting by the audience my parents were very supportive," she told reporters. Her character in the Colors show will go through a new phase now as Anandi has signed the divorce papers to finally legally separate from her estranged onscreen husband. Pratyusha said she is happy that her character will bring in a positive change to the serial which deals with child marriage, a social custom that is outlawed, but still practised in some parts of the society. "I am happy that I am the part of such a change. All the characters in the soap have changed. Everyone has realised now that how Anandi used to stay strong and continue to take care of the family inspite of her personal life being in shambles. The biggest achievement in her life is that Dadisa has also changed with time," she said. Anandi is also seen imparting education to the village girls while her in-laws are looking for a groom for her remarriage. "Anandi manages to sort out everyone`s lives even though her own life seem to be sinking with each passing day. She will thinks beyond her family to come up with a little school in her village," she said. The actress, who was roped in 2010 to play the elder version of the lead character, feels she will reconsider her decision of playing the lead if the serial again takes a leap. "I am blessed that the audience chose me to play the part and I have been doing it for the past two years. But if the serial takes a leap again then I have to reconsider my decision. I have just started my career and if the serial takes a 10-year-leap then it would be difficult for me to play a character which will be so much older than me," she said. At a time when actors have small shelf-life on television, Pratyusha feels if one plans his/her career then nothing goes wrong. While most of the small screen stars have added various shows to their portfolio, Prayusha says she is too choosy about her characters. "I am choosy about my roles. I can`t take up any random show. I need a role and script where I can infuse life through my acting prowess," she added. PTI