Dimple Jhangiani

Till yesterday she was Kanya, the sweet and simple girl next door. But now she is giving everyone sleepless nights as the ruthless Natasha. While many find it difficult to do justice to one role in a television serial, Dimple Jhangiani now plays two characters in her debut serial Kuchh Is Tara. But with a difference. Kanya and Natasha are not twins. Neither are they lookalikes. They are two facets of the same person. Dimple plays the victim of a split personality disorder — she is docile Kanya one moment, fiery Natasha the next.

“I love the character of Natasha. She is so much closer to what I am like in real life — volatile, short-tempered and interesting. Kanya is just too simple and sweet,” laughs Dimple.

The idea of taking the split personality route was producer Ekta Kapoor’s way of adding a dramatic twist to the already popular serial on Sony. “When Ekta sat me down and narrated the twist in the tale, I must admit I was a little baffled. I consider myself a non-actor and I knew that playing two dramatically different roles wasn’t going to be an easy task,” smiles the 21-year-old former model. But the move has paid rich dividends, if the show’s steadily climbing TRPs are any indication.

“Although Natasha is an overtly negative character, I am amazed at the kind of reactions that I have been getting from the audience. Young girls are coming up to me excitedly and saying that the character is all about girl power and that I should be even more vile next time,” says the actress.

Natasha is, in fact, fast emerging as the Gabbar Singh of the small screen. “Mothers are scaring their kids saying, ‘Jaldi khana kha lo nahin toh Natasha aa jaayegi’,” laughs Dimple, the latest baddie on the block.

While her good-bad act is getting her appreciation, Dimple is also hungry for some ‘real’ applause. She has given the nod to Kabhi Kabhii Pyaar, Kabhi Kabhii Yaar, a soon-to-be-aired reality dance show on Sony. “While I am not really a great dancer, I do have a flexible body. I think I will manage pretty well,” breezes off the petite actress.