It is difficult to get the “lazy” Rupali Ganguly to do an interview, but once she is in a mood for conversation, there is no stopping her. Rupali gets candid on her new TV show Ek Packet Umeed...

What is so special about Ek Packet Umeed that you ended your sabbatical from TV after Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Bigg Boss?

I did not want to play a married woman who is crying on her husband’s shoulder or someone who is being tortured for dowry; playing a pareshaniyon se grasth mahila was not on my agenda. Those roles were plenty but Ek Packet Umeed is different. It’s better than the others because while the women in the show do have sorrows in their lives, they have overcome them and are still full of hope. It is about happiness. If you give people something different to watch, it is sure to catch eyeballs.

How were you offered the show?

I was not offered Ek Packet Umeed. JD bhai (producer J.D. Majethia) said that I had rested enough and offered me Jassuben Jayantilal Joshi, Chaldi Da Naam Gaddi or Remote Control. I heard them talking about this show. I read the character sketches and I found Sujata completely alhad. I insisted that I would only play Sujata and no one else in any other show. They declined initially but I guess the channel was happy so J.D. called me and said ‘You are on’.

Are there any ego clashes since so many women are involved in the show?

When I had started on the show I was like, ‘Oh god, there are 12 women, ab kya hoga?’ I was not worried about the newcomers, and the older women like Neenaji (Kulkarni) and Suhasji (Joshi) pamper me like crazy. I was worried about acting with Suchita Trivedi and Lubna Salim because we are in the same age group and on a par when it comes to television standing. I was most skeptical about Suchita because I had worked with her in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and we had not hit it off. But we are best friends now.

Are you okay with the fact that it’s a weekly, not a daily?

After Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii I have not been offered anything substantial in the daily category. I’m so narcissistic that I want to be seen on television everyday! I watch the repeat telecast of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.

And when you come across repeat telecasts of Bigg Boss?

I change the channel fatafat (laughs).

Are you in touch with anyone from Bigg Boss ?

Carol and Rahul. I will be meeting them tonight.

And Ravi Kissen?

Ravi Kishen is busy with his own work.

Would you like to be a part of the Sarabhai sequel?

I would die for it.

Was Ratna Shah like Maya Sarabhai in real-life too?

She is like Maya Sarabhai but at the end of the day, she loves me and I love her a lot. Ratnaben ke saath kaam karna is an honour. On the sets of Sarabhai if I said, ‘Plumber aaya hai she would correct me and say, ‘It’s not plumber Rupali, you say plummer. But actually, go ahead and say plumber because Monisha plumber hi bolti.’ I miss her on Ek Packet Umeed because there is no one to correct our language (laughs).

Which of your characters are you closer to — Monisha or Sujata?

Monisha Sarabhai always remains closest to me. Monisha is lazy, lies down and has meals while watching TV and keeps the house dirty — she was 99 per cent me.

Your dad Anil Ganguly (Kora Kagaz, Tapasya) was a famous film director. Any chance of him directing you?

I still want him to direct me. But he never got into television. I have done a small role in his Saaheb where I come running in and touch Rakhee’s feet. I have also done Angaara with him for which I was always scolded by him. Whatever little I know of acting, and if people think I’m a good actor, it’s thanks to my dad and all his training.

When I was doing Sanjeevani he was stressed that since I was playing a vamp, I would not get marriage proposals. And that is what happened. The minute they knew I was the one who had played Doctor Simran, they would back out, giving some excuse. After Sarabhai, I got decent proposals (laughs).