Rashmi Desai is returning to television after four years with a new Star Plus series. Syony. The actor has now opened up about what made him take a break from the small screen. Rashmi revealed that she was often stereotyped as a television actress and said her “career is over”.
In an interview with Indian ExpressRashmi said, “I had stopped working for 3-4 years. I did a Gujarati film and I did a film on Zee5, Hisaw Par. I didn’t work much, I didn’t feel like it. I got TV offers, but I couldn’t join, or maybe I wasn’t ready at that time. I usually disappear for 3-4 years. By myself.”
She added, “As an actor you work very hard. When you do a film, you get time to work on yourself, but TV is a long commitment, and you’re living the character without even realizing it. So there were many things I wanted to know. I had my own journey. I didn’t like acting. I felt that if I didn’t convince my audience, I’d be convinced of something of myself.”
Rashmi further shared that she felt undervalued and objectified in the industry because she was a woman. “There are many projects where women are only used as objects in a frame. I find it very wrong; we are more than that. Her job is not to look sensual, sexy, elegant, glamorous; there is more to her. We have been stereotypical, that needs to change. When a woman steps into the field and works hard, she deserves it,” she said.
The actor said that despite believing in his acting abilities, he struggled to find the right platform to showcase his talent. He felt that people often downplayed his identity as a television actor and judged his looks instead of focusing on his performance.
“TV doesn’t make you a commodity. It gives you a platform. It’s a very underrated platform. TV has a stronger reach than any other platform, but it’s considered taboo. Many people told me I was an overexposed face. I was told my career was over,” she said.
Syony Premieres on 23rd September on Star Plus. New episodes air daily at 7:30 PM and are available for digital streaming on JioHotstar.
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