Exclusive - #TellyBlazer Vidhi Pandya on sitting at home for one and half year after Udaan: I took spiritual help to fight my anxiety during the struggle

TV actress Vidhi Pandya rose to fame with show Udaan but that moment was short-lived as she sat home for next one and half year. She made a comeback with Ek Duje Ke Vaaste 2 in the role of Suman Tiwari and says, ‘I don’t know what lies ahead but I am passionate about my work’. In this week of TellyBlazer segment we have Vidhi aka Imli of Udaan, speaking to ETimes TV exclusively about how life took an unexpected turn post the fandom.Looking at the brighter and positive side of life, Vidhi talks about her latest show going off-air, life post Udaan, overcoming professional struggle, personal accomplishments and more.
How’s work going on?
With lockdown and working in between, it is going great. It is bit scary, but that’s how it is. We need to protect ourselves, follow the norms and keep functioning.
Are you emotional with Ek Duje Ke Vaaste 2 going off-air?
I mean, ya little bit. When I had signed the show, our producer Dilip had said that the show will mostly wrap up by March 31st. At that time, we were happy that 3-4 months work is there. But when the day nears, you know it’s going to end, it’s very painful. I was pretty sad. It was a very different experience. We shot in Bhopal and the entire crew stayed together. It was quite an emotional journey as we all were attached. It has been just 3-4 days I am back in Mumbai and I am happy to be back home.
Glad to break the negative on-screen image
I feel so blessed to get the role of Suman Tiwari. After doing Udaan, everybody thought I am this 30-yr-old woman, who wears sari, puts dark kajal, crimps her hair, puts a bottle of glycerine and cries in front of the camera. That’s how they all saw me. That’s the only offers that I got for that one and half year when I sat at home. Everybody would call me to play negative or if it’s a positive role, it was about a sari-clad or village woman. Nobody was willing to take my audition for character which is about a girl-next-door. I had given a mock shoot for this role a year back when the show was actually being made. I was not selected then but I got it now. Maybe, I genuinely wanted this role with my soul. Now the auditions I have, people know that I can look a 23-24 year-old normal college-going girl.

You replaced Kanikka Kapur in the show; have you ever been replaced?
Haven’t faced such a moment so far. But even if it happens, there’s nothing bad to feel about it. That’s how the industry is. The person, who is truly capable or have luck in favour gets the role. In our industry, luck is as important as hardwork. At times, you work hard a lot but luck doesn’t favour you… and I truly believe in this. I did face a similar situation, but won’t say I was replaced.
How was life before Udaan and post its success?
Honestly, it’s been the same. I did feel my life will change after Udaan. Udaan has given me a lot, I won’t take away that. Bahut kuch diya hai wo show ne. But even after Udaan, I sat at home for one and half year in search of work. There was struggle before Udaan and after it too. People knew me, that she is Vidhi Pandya and has played the role of Imli in Udaan. But work wise, it wasn’t like I was flooded with offers. I struggled for one and half year to get EDKV2. I don’t know what struggles lie ahead. Udaan of course has given me the recognition and I will forever be thankful to the channel and producer. In terms of logical struggle life it was same before and after. I would give auditions and get rejected.
How did you sail through during this one and half year of no work?
I wasn’t so strong. I was getting affected for not getting work. I was going through anxiety and couldn’t figure out what was happening to me. I thought I won’t sit at home for long and will soon get work. Things start to affect you financially as well. Your bank account also starts showing the reality. But, I was blessed with my family who supported me throughout. My parents, nana, nani, my brother, they are my rock. They kept on talking to me, supporting me. They told me it is my struggle and not to compare it with others. But what changed my life actually was… I might sound spiritual… but it was reading the Bhagvad Gita. I started walking towards the spiritual path. I have been following it for eight months now and I see the change in me. Now, things don’t bother me or hyper me. I try to see things from a calmer perspective. Being spiritual has helped me.

So, being spiritual has helped you overcome your anxiety?
Yes, yes and not really anxiety issues but you do get that shock that you have no work. It does affect you when you have no work. And acting is not about my career, it’s my passion. Spiritual path helped over come every wrong and negative thoughts I have had.
Entering the entertainment industry…
I was in 7th or 8th grade when a friend of mine (is still my friend) would come in CID, Crime Patrol and on other episodics. Seeing her on screen I thought even I want to come on TV. It was just a curiosity to see myself on TV screen and how shooting happens. I told my parents and they were very supportive. They took it so seriously that they started hunting where portfolio shots are taken. I got my portfolio made and then nothing happened (laughs). We didn’t know where to circulate. My parents did all the searching and somehow I got a cameo role in a show called ‘Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi’. Here, Helly Shah was the lead and she happens to be my best friend. And I kept getting small roles after that.

Did you ever feel monotonous while playing a negative character?
Literally, never. I was given so many characters in one role, it kept changing. I feel privileged and never felt repetitive. In fact, they would play up my characters in so many roles, I would say ‘bas kar do’. Just as I would enter into a character, they would change my shade. But I wouldn’t take up a negative shade again. I have done it enough. The re’s a problem in Indian shows, they treat negative characters very negatively. They literally typecast you. But I wouldn’t mind playing a grey shade.
Have you ever felt pressurised about how you look or have any body image issues?
No, never. I do take that pressure in a good and positive way. You hold some responsibility when you come on-screen and that doesn’t mean you have to be glamorous or zero-figure. You need to be raw and pure and take care of your body. You present yourself nicely. Promote people to take care of your body, be whatever shape you are. Be confident and happy. I do take care that the clothes I am wearing suits me. I was a ‘gappoo’ kid in childhood and people would tease me. I think people need to stop teasing you like that. But I never faced any bully or body image issues.

What are accomplishments you have ticked off from your checklist?
I did an international trip with my own money, I gifted a vacation to my parents on their 25th anniversary and I purchased a car. There are many more on the checklist but these three things have been a high point for me in life.