From Sugna to Kangana -Vibha Anand

There was a time when to become a heroine or to even get a role in television shows or films you needed to be handsome or pretty. Looks were your passport to the celebrity world. In the recent past, however, things have changed drastically. Specially in the television industry. They have made it to the top solely on the basis of their acting prowess. Case in point is Vibha Anand, better known Sugna in Balika Vadhu.

One of the most popular actresses on Indian television today, Vibha started off as a greenhorn just about a year back. In fact, despite having done a course on acting from a school called Creating Characters, Vibha was so scared to face the camera that she almost had a nervous breakdown. “Participating in an acting course is something and actually facing the camera is something else. I was very scared on the first day of my shoot and was trembling,” remembers the actress. “To top it, I had to face experienced actors like Sulekha Sikri, Smita Bansal and Anoop Soni in the show. I just did not know how to move forward.”

But Vibha managed to muster enough courage, move forward and prove to the world that she can act. “I am grateful to my director Pradip Yadav for giving me the confidence to act. He was the person who patiently explained every scene till the time I became comfortable. I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did if it was not for him,” says a grateful Vibha whose first serial – Balika Vadhu – has catapulted her to stardom.

Another factor, according to Vibha, that helped her a lot was the team spirit in the show. “This was possible because of the long time we spent together while shooting in Rajasthan. The first schedule of shooting was completely done in Rajasthan and the entire cast and crew of the team came together during that time. We have also formed a youngsters gang within the crew involving me, Neha Marda and Avika Gor and we have a blast the moment cameras are switched off! I feel it is this team spirit that has made Balika Vadhu the number one show today,” explains a proud Vibha.

The perfect mix of youngsters and senior actors has helped the actress learn a lot and her performance has improved as a result. “It is of immense pride for me when I hear praises about my acting abilities in the midst of veterans like Sulekha Sikri, Smita Bansal and Anoop Soni. It would not have been possible without their active mentoring,” says Vibha.

But it has been a sad story for her character in Balika Vadhu ever since her on-screen husband died in an accident. “It was a complete creative decision. We had no idea of why it was done. In fact I got to know from the media that something like that is going to happen. But as you know, a new character – Krishna (played by Vikrant Massay) – has been introduced in the show. He will bring about some happiness in my life,” says the actress who has been constantly seen crying in the show ever since the change in script. In fact, the story goes that Vibha doesn’t even need glycerine to shed tears on the sets.

After her success in Balika Vadhu, Vibha has also started acting in a new Hats Off Productions’ show – Shree where she is playing the role of Kangana, as spirit. “It is a complete change from my earlier character. But it is very interesting and challenging and I am enjoying every bit of Kangana!” explains the versatile actress who feels she is a director’s actress.

Interestingly, the same team spirit that Vibha enjoyed in Balika Vadhu is evident in Shree as well. “Today I have three families – my Balika Vadhu family, my Shree family and my actual family. I am equally at ease everywhere and they care for me equally,” says Vibha.