Divyanka Tripathi: These days the web series The Magic of Shiri is streaming on OTT platform Jio Cinema. Actress Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya is the face of this series. Special conversation with Urmila Kori on her association with this series, preparations related to it as well as the news of her pregnancy.
The title role is yours so was it easy to say yes to the show?
I have the title role in this series. This means a lot for an actor, but this cannot be the only reason because I have said no to many shows with title roles. There was nothing new in it or I might have played such a role before, but the way the character is in this series. I have never played or seen such a character. I watch a lot of content myself. Till now I have not come across any such series. In this series, I have become a female magician and on top of that, the story has been set in the 90s.
Any special memory related to the shooting of this series that you would like to share?
We have shot this series in many real locations. Shooting took place in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Shooting took place in Mussoorie. From the roads to the rickshaws, everything was real, because TV has made me a popular face in every household, so during the shooting, I have got a lot of love from the people. They treat me like a member of their family, just a friend. The glamorous actress. Everyone wanted the photo, but everyone also cared a lot. When I was shooting in Chandni Chowk, a shopkeeper had opened his shop so that I could comfortably sit on a chair and take a breath of air from the fan while shooting. Someone had opened his warehouse. Everyone helped a lot from their side.
What did you have to learn for the character in the series?
I am a magician in the series, so I got a chance to learn magic tricks. There was a workshop for learning magic tricks for 4 to 5 days, then after that we had to practice. Sleight of hand is not easy, it takes a lot of practice so that your hand becomes absolutely smooth. It should happen. The speed in it should be such that it cannot be seen how the magic trick was done.. Apart from this, I also had to work on my language. Everyone knows that I am from Bhopal and I have become a Punjabi in this series, so I know a little Punjabi. Had to work on the tone. Whatever is in Shiri's mind. She speaks indiscriminately. I have to say Napatula, although I am also honest, but since I am an artist and everyone knows that today everyone's feelings get hurt very quickly. Overall, making Shiri took a lot of hard work but was quite an enjoyable process.
While adopting this character, did you have to forget anything from the past?
As far as forgetting or unlearning is concerned, I had to do that a lot in the initial phase of my career. When I came, I was an NCC cadet, so my body language was very different. I used to stand straight. Shoulders back, head up. My style of walking was that of a parade. The one who walks by kicking his heels. In such a situation, girls did not have any delicacy. I was not at all delicate when I entered the industry. To make myself delicate, I had to break my body a lot. It was only after this that I was able to become a shy girl in my first show. Now I have practiced for so many years that I can easily slip into any character.
In this series you are a magician, if you get power in real life, what would you like to change?
I would like to change the roads of Mumbai. It feels very sad when you get such roads despite paying so much tax.
Javed Jaffrey has become your mentor in this series. How has been your on-screen and off-screen bonding with him?
He is a very passionate actor. Get completely immersed in your character. I also like to do similar work, so our chemistry became very good. That was our first scene. It was very intense and only after that Javed sir trusted me that she is a good actress. I got a lot of encouragement from him immediately after the shoot. After that we became friends only. He used to joke a lot on the set.
This series shows how women often have to sacrifice their dreams in a patriarchal society, have you gone through this in your personal life?
I am lucky that my parents are very good. He never allowed me to compromise with my dreams. Although because of me she had to listen to a lot of taunts and sarcasm that don't give so much freedom to the girl otherwise she will cut her nose, there was only so much pressure on me that I have to fulfill my dreams by saving the honor of my family. Yes, my mother has sacrificed a lot. She had many prohibitions, due to which she could not fulfill her dream. This is the reason why I was able to see my mother a lot in the character of Shiri. I have created Shiri's look by taking inspiration from my mother's look.
This show is based on the 90s, what did you like best about the 90s?
It was my mother's Luna bike. I used to go to my father's shop to help him. Since I was young, I had only Luna's permission. Papa used to fill petrol worth only 10 or 20 rupees with difficulty, so it used to be empty many times. In such situations, many times one had to come by bicycle. That memory is very special to me. Well at that time there was an innocence in everyone. Now the Internet has made everyone the same kind of mature. Because we have learned a lot from a very young age. With this, everyone has also lost patience.
How much does the news of your pregnancy test your patience?
When my fans ask, I don't feel bad because I know they ask because of my love for me. Yes, I feel bad when people make such news just to get numbers. People post anything to make numbers on social media. I just want people to be sensitive in this regard, because sometimes someone may face problems during pregnancy. It is possible that someone may be trying but not being able to. This is a matter of God as well as biology, so you trouble the other person by asking questions again and again.
