TV Needs More Evolving Content For Viewership: Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya Actor Sara Khan

Sara Khan, widely recognised for her role in Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai, is now captivating audiences with a completely different avatar in Sun Neo's Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya. In this new show, where she stars alongside Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Sara takes on the complex role of Goddess Kritikayein, a grey character who embodies six distinct avatars.

New Avatar, New Show: Interview With Sara Khan

The actor recently opened up about her latest role in an upcoming show. Describing the complexity of her role, Sara explained, "Yes, it's a grey character, and I'm playing six of me. There are six avatars of Goddess Kritikayein. This is a revenge story. She did something in the past. She nurtured six of the babies and the wives of the humans. Six of them did not get any reward from the gods. And all of them together took on one avatar called Goddess Kritikayein. Now she's taking revenge from Chhati Maiya, who got the reward of nurturing Kritikayein."

She also recalled her first day of shooting for the show and revealed why she was shocked and surprised when she learned more about her role. She revealed, "When the director first told me about the scene where I would appear as six different characters in one frame, I thought it was just for a promo, to create some visual effect or for my entry scene. Gradually, in every scene I did, I had to act alone with my characters, and I wondered what was happening. In every scene, I was talking to myself, asking questions and answering them, and reacting to things alone. I kept wondering if this was going to continue. Later, I learned the backstory of Goddess Kritikayein, who was one of six women married to seven 'rishi munis,' who raised Kartik and later united against Chhathi Maiyya. It was then that I understood I would always have to play multiple roles.”

She further added, "This was different and new compared to anything I have done in my career before. I have played a double role before, but never sextuplet roles. So, when I learned about this on the first day of the shoot, it was both shocking and surprising for me."

Sara Khan's Take On The Evolution of Hindi Soap Operas

Sara has been a part of the television industry for a long time and has witnessed its evolution over the years. When asked about the changes she has observed in Hindi soap operas, she candidly shared her views. "Television is still the same. They are still making the same stories and the same kind of shows. I believe this is the reason why OTT has taken over, where people are getting to see different content. TV needs to really work on changes and come up with something more innovative."

On the topic of the depiction of women's roles in the industry, both on and off screen, Sara was clear in her perspective. "Every story requires a different kind of role and character. If a character is a way in which a person can evolve from their personal life and relate to that character, then it happens. If it doesn’t happen, then it doesn’t."

As more actors like Ridhima Pandit, Krishna Mukherjee, and Kavita Kaushik speak out about toxic work culture in the television industry, Sara Khan, when asked about challenges and opportunities for women, shared a different perspective. Sara said, "I don’t believe in this woman and man card. I don't prefer standing within that limit of being a woman or a man. Everybody can do anything in life, whether it’s work or taking care of the house. Both women and men are powerful creatures, and it depends on how you work towards your goals."

View on Pay Parity in the Industry

Moreover, Sanaya Irani recently revealed to Hauterrfly that despite shows being centred around women, male leads often receive higher pay. She shared her frustration, noting that even though women spend more time on set handling demanding scenes, they still earn less. Sanaya also mentioned that she requested equal pay for her popular show, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon's revamp but was denied, leading her to decline the role.

Regarding the ongoing debate about pay parity in the industry, Sara expressed her thoughts straightforwardly. "Everybody gets paid according to their calibre. It has nothing to do with being male or female. If a film is being sold in the name of a hero, then the hero gets paid more. If a film is being sold in the name of a heroine, then the heroine doesn't get paid much. It's a very logical thing to understand."