Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) Gurdeep Kohli, who shot to fame after playing doctor Juhi in the show “Sanjeevani”, says new faces have thronged small screen because producers are not willing to pay to senior actors. She hopes the new brigade of artists on small screen is compensated well and that the TV industry gets a makeover.

“I hope fresh lot are paid well, but it dosen’t seem to me. The absence of my contemporaries makes me feel that just because the old faces (senior artists) ask for a bigger denomination, they (producers) go in for new faces as they could put them on roll at a less price,” Gurdeep told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

“In our time, we were paid quite well and then the recession came, which troubled everybody. Now there is a new brigade of fresh faces on TV, but the sad part is that we don’t get to see the old faces which ruled the television industry at some point of time,” she added.

Gurdeep also feels the television industry needs a make-over.

“I used to work for 12 hours in a day, when I was doing shows. But now with the responsibility that I have of my kid, I can’t devote so much time. TV needs a makeover. It really needs to get easy. The TRP drama and the never ending shooting schedules make it very hectic,” she said.

The 33-year-old is facing the camera after a long time and will be seen in Disney Channel’s “Best of Luck Nikki” as Himani Singh.

“The show is just an extension of my real life. I play a mother in the show and in my real life too I am taking care of my one-year-old daughter. I found an instant connect with the role,” she said.

The actress, who also featured in soaps like “Sindoor Tere Naam Ka” and “Kasamh Se”, feels it’s the right time for her to explore other avenues.

“I don’t want to repeat any of my roles. I don’t want to bore my viewers with the same old drama. I was getting offers during my break also, but they were the same old ’saas-bahu’ stuff, which I didn’t want to get back with. It’s been nearly nine years and I felt it is the right time for me to diversify my dimensions.

“I really wanted to do comedy. I feel there is a dearth of good comedy roles.”

When asked about her other projects, she said: “I am looking forward for a second season of ‘Best of Luck Nikki’, for which I still have a five-month break.”