We caught up with Garima Jain at her Lokhandwala residence, last week. The young lady has been under a lot of flak over her alleged involvement in the break-up of Vivian Dsena and Vahbiz Dorabjee. We naturally and quickly drifted the subject to what was an important part of the conversation. And yes, we did discuss Gandii Baat 4 which she's an integral part of. Plus, her 5 upcoming shows. Yes, you read it right- FIVE!
You left Shakti- Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki 2 years back. You have been patient all along. Now, you have around 5 web shows in your kitty…
It's been almost 2 years that I left the show. I was just keeping a low profile. I was deliberately doing that because I was also occupied with something. And whenever I work, I have this superstition that main kisiko bataungi so shayad mera woh kaam nahi hoga. Hence, I was not speaking to anybody or telling what am I up to. And yes, I'm returning with 5 shows back-to-back starting with Gandii Baat 4.
So when Gandii Baat 4 offer came along, you knew the title and did it make you apprehensive?
Of course, I was skeptical about it. But then the makers (ALTBalaji) of the show convinced me. Certain things where I was apprehensive, I made sure I got cleared in my contract.
Could you elaborate on that?
There was a lot of nudity and I thought to myself that I don't see it happening. Of course, the web space is something which requires a lot of bold content. I understand that. There's a very thin line between getting tagged as the you know what I mean. So I just made sure that it doesn't happen with my name. SEE THE VIDEO BELOW:
So you did those intimate scenes, but in your own way...
Yes, and it was also shot very aesthetically. So I did have one meeting just with the director and one with the whole bunch of makers. I made sure that even though I'll be doing it, I won't be doing certain things.
Any apprehensions about kissing, apart from bold scenes?
OTT is a platform where they want to keep it quite interactive, so yes, I had to kiss.
Did you ask them to shoot your intimate scenes with minimal staff present on set?
It was a very closed set. It was just the director, the DOP, me and one female creative, that's about it.
Tell us about your role in Gandii Baat Season 4?
If I have to talk about my character, I have a lot to do because I'm the antagonist and the protagonist as well. All these web series that I'm doing have enough scope for me to perform as an artiste. Only one web show is such wherein I don't have a lot to do.
There were talks that you left Shakti due to presence of Vivian Dsena. You got uncomfortable working with him...
Kehne ko, bolne ko aur sunne ko bahut baatein hoti hai. I think that's the price an actor pays for being a public figure. Bohot saare logon ne hum dono ko link-up kiya. At the start, it did affect me, but in the end, let it go. I know what I am and I know the truth.
So it was not due to Vivian?
Absolutely not!
Then why did you leave Shakti?
Because there was not much for me as an actor to play around. Shakti started revolving around Saumya getting kidnapped, then returning home and all those melodramatic scenes. I didn't want to be just a prop in the show. I spoke to the makers if we can work out something. But things didn't work out. So that was one thing. And then, the location was Naigaon. I used to stay in Andheri. So imagine the travel time. It was killing. Otherwise, it was a great show.
Will you work with the makers of Shakti again or is there any bad blood?
If something great comes my way, then why not? Never say, never.
Are you single?
Yes, completely.
Before this?
I was...
There was a lot of talk again about the same person (Read: Vivian) and you during the days of Shakti that you'll were dating...
Okay, let me talk about it. We were quite pally with each other. We used to speak a lot. I used to actually treat him like a brother. Because my brothers are unable to spend so much time with me in Mumbai, I used to think that I've somebody with me in their place.
Did people tease you guys on the sets?
Yes, but we were very chilled out initially. I didn’t expect that things would get blown out of proportion.
When these rumours came into play, was Vivian's marriage with Vahbiz Dorabjee over? Or, was it still on?
I had joined the show in March 2016 and in April-May I read about their separation. So, it was pretty much the same time.
You were blamed for it...
Yeah, I was dragged into it for no fault of mine.
Did Vivian ever discuss with you the problems between Vahbiz and him?
I'm not somebody who would be comfy getting into someone else's personal space. We used to talk, we were friendly-- but nothing on the personal front.
Rounding this off, I think it snowballed when you'll started staying in the same building after he walked out from Vahbiz's life...
I had moved into the building much earlier than Vivian. I had started with the show (Shakti) and I wanted a little more connectivity with Naigaon so it was convenient for me and that's why I shifted. So, it wasn't planned.
Tongues wagged very loudly. Did you at any point tell him that let's not talk anymore. Are you in touch with him, today?
That's what happens when people start talking about it, personal relationships do get affected. After that, I maintained pin drop silence on this particular matter and yes, even with him.
Today, if Vivian and Garima meet at a party, would they talk to each other?
I don't know, we haven't bumped into each other yet.
So, you'll are not in touch at all?
No.
Coming back to your web shows, can you talk about them?
I can't reveal their names. I'm working with good people, established channels. It's a very interesting line-up actually.
Are you put off by TV now?
Maybe, yes.
What was that thing which got you disoriented from TV?
Since the times these OTT platforms have become a rage, the TRPs of TV shows have dropped. Today, we are largely in digital space.
Can I say that you want to cater to the youth as an audience hence you are choosing web shows over TV. Is that your target audience? That’s what I mean…
Till the time I don't do a TV show, definitely. An an actor, it's your hunger which takes you further, doesn’t it?
Now that you're doing web shows and not TV, don't you think you might be losing out on a little bit of adulation in public?
Obviously, I'll lose on elderly people. They would still see me as the Shakti ki Raavi. But if you would ask the youth, ‘Do you know Radhika Apte?’ They won’t be ignorant about her. I want to see myself there.
Without a topless scene, right? Remember, she did one in the Parched…
Yes (Laughs).
Image Source:- spotboyeteam
Image Source:- spotboyeteam