Right from the days of Doordarshan to the present day, when there are a plethora of channels, Seema Deshmukh has been around and witnessed the changes that have swept the small screen.

She tells NT why she feels Marathi serials can do better and why she loves being a perfectionist.

Maiden visit to Nagpur: The actress who hails from Pune says that she has never visited Nagpur before but describes her first visit to the city as ‘memorable’. “The wide roads and cleanliness have left me impressed. However, what I do regret is that I could not eat Saoji delicacies.” The lady who has a taste for the spicy stuff says, “I am a great fan of non-vegetarian food and I've heard that Saoji food is really spicy. Next time I come I surely will try it out.”

‘Marathi serials don’t pay enough’: Seema is a familiar face on the small screen and with so many Marathi channels these days, she is now a household name. Talking of the work she has been doing she says, “I am happy with the content of Marathi serials, as they give vent to artists to show their creativity and acting talent.” So what is the one thing that she rues? “The economics are not so good. We work just as hard as those who work in Hindi serials, but get paid less. I guess that’s why many of our artists prefer working for the Hindi serials,” she says.

My favourite roles: From playing a vamp to being a heroine, this actress has done it all. But there must be one role, which she wants to play. She agrees saying, “I have done a variety of roles, but I still want to play a part that encompasses the life span of an individual. I think I can then manage to show my acting skills playing different ages. I wish I get a role, where I play a young bride, a mother, a grandmother etc..”

Tryst with music: Music has always been very close to Seema’s heart and the music show on TV only gave her an opportunity to pursue what she always loved. Ask her about her musical tryst and she says, “I sing and do it pretty well. So when the show happened, I was quite interested. As the rounds progressed and I came to the top three, I was all the more inspired to do well.” And what was the kind of rapport she shared with her co-contestants? “I shared a great rapport with both the finalists Prasad Oak and Sunil Barve and I think they were deserving finalists,” she says. So is she taking her music seriously again? “Oh yes”, says Seema adding, “I am continuing my riyaaz with Milind Ingle. It relaxes me a great deal.”

Perfectionist to the core: Seema Deshmukh may be a TV star, but she knows how complacency can ruin an artist. “My learning music keeps me on my toes. The urge to learn ensures that I do not allow any kind of complacency to set in. I know people are constantly watching your work, so I keep pushing myself to do better and better and thus do better as an artist.” Aparna Phadke

Courtesy:Times of India

Marathi cinema will regain its glory: Sachin Khedekar

Panaji (PTI): Actor-turned-director Sachin Khedkar feels the screening of four Marathi films in the Indian Panorama section at International Film Festival of India in Goa has helped in resurrecting the position of Marathi cinema, while posting it on the global screen.

"From a golden era to an unexpected low and now again back on its way to regain glory, Marathi cinema is growing ommercially at an unexpected pace," Khedekar said at IFFI.

"It is heartening to know that four Marathi movies are being screened in the Indian Panorama section. There was a time when Marathi film industry was on a decline but now the picture has changed and I am delighted that the face of Indian Cinema is changing," said the veteran actor, who has potrayed memorable roles in films like 'Astitva' and 'Subhash Chandra Bose'.

'Avedhe Se Aabhaal' directed by Bipin Nadkarni, 'Kaalchakra' directed by Vishal Bhandari, 'Mai Baap' directed by Gajendra Ahire and 'Harvalele Indradhansh' directed by Dhiraj Meshram are the four films that feature in the prestigious Indian Panorama section in IFFI this year.

"What is inspiring is that Marathi movies are finding slots and wider acceptance in multiplexes too which indicates that at both commercial and parallel levels, the cinema is progressing well," Khedekar said.

The actor also agrees that the change in Marathi cinema has elicited a welcome response while drawing a large number of movie lovers.

"Cinema is a serious prospect; it should not be viewed only as an entertainment package but as a medium which thrives on creative inputs and actors coming of age while lending excellence to it in the form of new stories, skills and subjects," he added.

Khedekar, who is in the state for the screening of his film 'Kalchakra' has a word of praise for IFFI 2007.

"The 38th film festival is organised very sharply and is very well set up. It has more focus on the cinema and not the peripheral activities," he said.

The actor is also excited with the overall concept of IFFI 2007 as "this environment of the film festival will attract the film makers, actors who can react on a serious note."

Currently Khedekar is busy with his forthcoming projects like Ketan Mehta's 'Rang Rasia' (on Raja Ravi Verma), Ajay Devgan's 'You, Me and Hum' and Ashiwini Bhave's production 'Kadhachit'.