‘Everyday Is A Struggle’

‘It’s
a
struggle
for
everybody,
even
established
people
are
struggling.’

Manasi
Parekh
is
thrilled
to


win
a
National
Award
for
Best
Actress
for
her
Gujarati
film,

Kutch
Express,
and
hopes
that
things
will
fall
into
place
for
her
and
her
husband,
who
has
produced
the
film.

Known
for
television
series
like

India
Calling
and

Kasautii
Zindagii
Kay,
Manasi
tells

Subhash
K
Jha,
“I
feel
so
validated
because
when
I
started
acting
some
six,
seven
years
ago,
a
lot
of
the
Hindi
industry
people
were
like,
“Why
are
you
doing
Gujarati
films?”
I
was
like
I’m
forging
my
own
path
because
I
believe
there’s
so
much
potential
in
regional
languages.”

So
another
famous
Parekh
after
Asha?

(Laughs)
I
wish
that
would
come
true.
I
am
in
a
state
of
disbelief.

I
have
been
gushing
and
crying
because
this
was
so
unexpected.

How
did
your
family
react
after
hearing
this
announcement?

My
husband
produced

Kutch
Express.

My
daughter
is
seven
years
old
and
she’s
like,
‘Oh,
why
are
you
crying?
You
should
be
happy
when
you
win
an
award.’

It’s
quite
an
achievement
because
you
just
did
your
work
and
let
that
speak
for
itself?

Absolutely.
I
feel
so
validated
because
when
I
started
acting
some
six,
seven
years
ago,
a
lot
of
the
Hindi
industry
people
were
like,
“Why
are
you
doing
Gujarati
films?”
I
was
like
I’m
forging
my
own
path
because
I
believe
there’s
so
much
potential
in
regional
languages.

The
language
barriers
fell
like
five,
six
years
ago.

Absolutely.

I
also
think
it’s
a
great
sense
of
validation
for
my
hard
work
and
you
know,
to
be
in
a
film
that
talks
about
feminism.

How
do
you
balance
your
personal
life
with
your
work?
Does
your
daughter
feel
upset?

Yeah,
she
does
get
a
little
sad
but
she
understands.
I
have
done
seven
films
after
giving
birth
to
her.

Every
year,
there
are
a
couple
of
projects
that
I’m
away
for.

She’s
used
to
it
and
then,
you
know,
one
balances
it
out.

Has
it
been
a
struggle
to
get
where
you
are?

Yes,
it
has
always
been
a
struggle.

It’s
a
struggle
for
everybody,
even
established
people
are
struggling.

Everyday
is
a
struggle,
more
so
in
the
entertainment
industry.

Also,
as
an
actress,
there
is
always
this
struggle
to
get
the
parts
one
wants.

But
you
got
a
strong
performance-oriented
role
in

Kutch
Express.

Yeah,
but
that’s
because
I
produced
it.
You
know,
we
can’t
wait
for
others
to
do
it
for
us.
We
have
to
fend
for
ourselves.

I
believe
that
the
time
has
come
for
us
to
do
what
we
want
to
do.

This
award
is
a
validation
of
my
struggle
and
other
actresses
like
me.

Even
in
Gujarati
when
I
started
out,
there
were
not
many
female
parts
written.
You
always
have
the
male
as
the
central
character.

What
films
of
yours
would
you
recommend
for
audiences
who
haven’t
seen
your
work?

You
must
see

Dear
Father
with
Paresh
Rawal.

I
did
a
small
role
in

Uri.

In
Hindi,
there’s
been
too
much
of
waiting
for
me
and
I’m
not
the
kind
of
person
who
likes
to
wait.

Lekin
main
wait

kyon
karoon?
I
am
doing
my
bit
in
Gujarat
and
thankfully
getting
the
support
of
the
audience.

My
film

Jhamkudi
is
a
big
hit. 

So
celebration
time
in
the
family?

Absolutely.
Except
that
I’m
busy
shooting.

My
next
film
is
a
beautiful
love
story
about
a
single
mother
and
a
younger
guy.

That
subject
has
never
been
explored
in
Gujarat.
It
will
release
in
January-February.

My
husband
Parthiv
Gohil
is
a
singer.
Both
of
us
wanted
to
do
something
for
the
Gujarati
language
and
that’s
how
we
started
our
production
house.

I
hope
things
will
fall
in
place
after
this
National
Award.

What
do
you
think
of
Nithya
Menen
with
whom
you
share
the
National
Award?
Have
you
watched
her
work?

No,
I
haven’t.
But
I
know
her
and
am
very
happy
for
her.

Photographs
curated
by
Satish
Bodas/Rediff.com