Exclusive! I’ll not go bold as I have a mental clause for myself, says Aparna Dixit

Aparna Dixit, the Agra-born actress of hits like Woh Toh Hai Albelaa, Bepanah Pyaar and Mahabharat, wrapped a 40-day shoot for her fourth web series, following Unafraid, Exit,and Sabse Bada Rupaiya, in Lucknow.

The actress, in a freewheeling chat with us, spoke about her roots and family legacy to industry journeys, bold content boundaries and divine Lucknow temple vibes. Excerpts...

You are from Agra. Tell us about your days there?Yes, I’m from Agra. I was born in Delhi since my mom hails from there. But my dad is from Agra. My entire schooling and childhood unfolded in Agra. All my friends, right up to class XII, were there. Later, I graduated from Delhi University. My dad, like most dads, insisted I become a teacher as my whole family consists of teachers, including my mom, viewing it as the safest career for a girl.

That’s why he pushed me toward Physics Honours at Delhi University, but God had different ideas.

My parents live in Agra, and I visited them for Holi recently. Your roots, where you grew up, hold you forever, and I’m deeply proud of myself. But I’ve never filmed in Agra. After all these years, it’s my biggest dream to shoot there someday.How are people from Agra different?I think the people I’ve met from Agra were all very polished. Agra people stay deeply connected to their roots and take immense pride in their culture.

Things like spirituality and religion don’t require effort from me; they came naturally. Just as work integrates into our lives, so does this. I feel my city has given me a profound touch. How does it feel to belong to the city of the Taj Mahal?All my childhood has only been about visiting Taj Mahal. I just remember seeing a lot of foreigners and being fascinated by them at the Taj Mahal. So staying in the city and being from the city of Taj Mahal itself made us very proud that wherever you go in everybody knows Taj Mahal and you are from that city.

So that itself felt like a big achievement.How has your journey in the entertainment industry been so far?It’s been too damn good. I’ve worked with great makers on TV like Ekta Kapoor ma’am. I feel shows actually choose you, and you don’t choose shows. When I arrived in Mumbai, I was in my early 20s with no industry contacts. But my journey has stayed pretty smooth, and I have no negative experiences till date.You’ve been working almost continuously until last year.Yes, from 2013, every year I have done one or two shows. Work is like a sacred thing in my life.

And I have never rejected shows that came my way. So, I was never extremely picky or choosy about anything. My first five shows were back-to-back with Ekta ma’am. There was a time when I was doing three shows at a time and I have had my share of sleepless nights.

You were in Lucknow to shoot for a web series. How has the journey been on that platform?It is my fourth show on the web. I did my first web series, Unafraid, with Vikram Bhatt as a lead. Meeting him for the role is a very funny story. Knowing that he only makes bold content, I thought that I will not do the project.

But then I also thought that I don’t want to let it go. So, I thought I’ll go for the meeting. I went there, he narrated me the entire story and there was nothing bold in it. He made a show that was a cop-based story with no bold content. I was playing a police officer. So that’s how my web journey started.

Then I did two more web shows. And now this is my fourth project for the web.And you have a no intimacy and no bold scenes clause for the OTT?I don’t have a clause, but I am not comfortable. Yeah, I do have a mental clause that I’ll not go bold.

My personality can’t be defined by what profession I am in. If as a person, I’m not comfortable with a few things, then I would not push myself just because my profession demands it.How was your visit to Lucknow?I have been there for my shoot but never more than 10 to 12 to 15 days, this time it was 40 days. And I think I’ve enjoyed my off days so much.I enjoyed the food there so much. I visited Chandrika Devi Temple, 51 Shakti Peeth Temple. I also visited Hanuman Setu, Hanumant Dham and Manakameshwar temples. The evening aarti at the Manakameshwar temple was so divine. The way the shankh and the dhamrus were being played, there was divine energy all around.