Smita Bansal recently kicked up a storm after quitting the Zee TV serial, Piya Ka Ghar because she did not want to play an ‘older’ character. So what if she was just playing a character role? She upped and opted out. “I had made it clear that at no point would I do scenes in which I had to interact with my kids. Why should I play the role of an older woman when I am already doing a show where I am shown my age?” referring to Yeh Meri Life Hai where she replaced another actress Sheetal Thakkar not very long ago. Sheetal was also unhappy that her track was gradually turning negative and though she had conveyed her decision to the producers a few months earlier, she stuck on for some time just to help out.

In the late 90s, Smita was a popular leading lady in serials like Challenge and had substantial roles in the long-running Amaanat and Itihaas as well as a host of important roles in episodes of big shows like X-Zone and Saturday Suspense. But post- marriage and motherhood she is no longer considered ‘hot’ on the TV circuit. She is not a leading lady in any serial (even the CID role of Aditi is nothing compared to what she had done before), but it won’t deter her from acting according to her belief.

Smita is not alone. There are others who have felt the same before. Amarr Upadhyay seems to have started it all. Kyunki?Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi? made him a household name for close to two years. But when the time leap happened he walked out because he did not want to play a 40-plus character. Unsubstantial films (like Dhund ? The Fog, Wah Wah Ramji and a small role in J.P. Dutta’s LoC) did not do him much good and he is back to TV serials, Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Kkusum (where he plays his age).

Nausheen Ali Sardar owes most of her name and fame to Kkusum and she happily carried the tag of the sweet girl next door for almost three years till the producers decided it was time for a time leap. Kkusum was supposed to have a grown-up daughter, Kumud, and Nausheen felt she was too young to play mum. After reluctantly continuing with it for some time she quit; she couldn’t play mum to a girl of her own age (Aashka Goradia). She was promptly replaced by Manasi Joshi Roy. When there were talks about getting Nausheen back (for better TRPs and she too had not done well outside Balaaji stable with Kaalchakra) she made it clear that Aashka shouldn’t share any scenes with her. Thankfully, such a situation did not arise as Nausheen couldn’t make a comeback because of contract issues with Star TV (which aired Kaalchakra). But Nausheen points out, “When I am so young myself, how can I bear someone calling me ‘mum’?”

Narayani Shastri, the leading lady of Piya Ka Ghar, also started imposing terms when it came to time leap. She clearly stated that she would continue with the role only if she was also allowed to play the part of the daughter also. It came to such a point that she ended up being labelled a tyrant by the show’s writer who had to bear the brunt of her highhandedness the most. The double role was very difficult to sustain. She was needed in almost all the shots and the producers and the actress realised that it was very difficult to play a double role in a daily soap. “The practical difficulty of shooting with Narayani in a double role led to the change in script for Piya Ka Ghar. Ever since Zee decided to run the dailies five days a week, things became difficult to handle. We needed at least one and half to two days to shoot a single episode with Narayani in the double role. It was just not practical to go on,” the producer said.

The daughter Narayani (Megha) had to go and newcomer Lovleen was brought in to take her place (the popular plastic surgery theme was used). Narayani since then has been threatening to opt out. The buzz is that the producers are also wary of her and she might be replaced in the show soon. Gauri Pradhan, ‘Nandini’ of Kyunkii... (who shone in Kutumb alongside real-life husband Hiten Tejwani) also has a similar attitude. As she is reluctant to play old she too will quit the show if the second time leap happens.

Time leaps don’t seem to bother some, however. Artistes like Shweta Tiwari, Prachi Shah, Saakshi Tanwar and Sonia Kapoor (who has taken Smita Bansal’s place in Piya Ka Ghar) are okay with playing old. Smriti Iraani (Tulsi) is the best example. Her costar Amarr Upadhyay left the show, but she happily continued to play mum to people of her age (she put on a lot of weight and looked older anyway). She is open to playing grandma in the serial when the second time leap happens (Amarr on the other hand was hoping to make a comeback as her grandson which was not agreed to).

Shilpa Saklani took up Kkusum after the deal with Nausheen did not work out. Even though Shilpa also claims to be very young she states that as long as the money is good and helps her in keeping her home in order she doesn’t really mind. But many are surprised with this attitude. “If she is actually so young why does she play an older character?”