Sakshi Tanwar 'very proud' of TV medium

Actress Sakshi Tanwar, who became a household name across large parts of India with television soap operas like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, said she is proud of the medium and interesting content will always pull her to the small screen.

Tanwar, who has acted in quite a few feature films and will be seen later this year as Aamir Khan's wife in Dangal, said she is proud of her roots in TV. "I started from here," said the actress, who was in the capital to promote her forthcoming finite TV series 24: Season 2. "I am so proud of my television [work]. I am a television product. I am very proud of the medium. If I continue to find interesting subjects, you will keep seeing me on TV."

Tanwar, who played Sunny Deol's wife in Chandraprakash Dwivedi's still-to-be-released film Mohalla Assi, said she supports the changing trends as far as content on television is concerned. Asked about the fading away of 'saas-bahu' shows, she said: "We did it for a long time. If I keep doing only that, how will I grow as an actor? So I have to keep trying new things, which is exactly why I am doing 24."

Referring to her transformation from the ideal Indian bahu (daughter-in-law) to an anti-terrorist unit chief, she said, "It's been a great journey so far. I love this transformation. I've been fortunate enough to have done strong female characters even in the past. But I would say this time it's different as it's not just about loving and protecting your family. It's also about loving and protecting your nation.

Tanwar's character, ATU chief Shibani Malik, is "a woman of substance. She is strong and determined. She is also a mother to a special child. She is a very loving, caring and nurturing mother. It's a beautifully layered character... something I haven't done before. Also, the premise of the show. It's nowhere in the vicinity of the house," said the actress, who has also hosted shows, including Code Red, a crime-based show.

So, will we see her using her fists and showcasing her physical strength in the second season of 24, which is an Indian adaptation of the popular American TV show 24?

"You need to see the show for that," she said.

As for working with film star Anil Kapoor, who is the lead actor and producer of 24, she said, "We have done some scenes together. It was a great experience because he is such a senior actor, so successful, talented, yet he is so warm and humble. He is full of energy and enthusiasm. He carries the same energy on the sets. He motivates everyone. He is so involved and gets into discussions to improve a scene."

As producer, she said, Kapoor does not interfere. "He never interfered. We had healthy mutual discussions. On the sets, he was never a producer. He was an actor... that too a co-actor. So, everybody got the same treatment."

Tanwar's next film Dangal is scheduled to be released on 23 December.