New Delhi, June 17 (FN Agency) Best known for her roles in movies like “Parineeta”, “3 Idiots”, among many other tv serials, Supriya Shukla has now explored a new world of podcast, with Audible’s ‘Hello Jaanu’.Supriya boasts a stellar line of work both in television and movies. She has recently starred in Audible Original ‘Hello Jaanu’. The story revolves around a fantasy call line Hello Jaanu run by Gurpreet aunty played by Supriya. In an exclusive Zoom interaction with UNI, Supriya talked about how the concept of ‘Audible’ will attract the audience despite the OTT dominance. “I think we have been a nation of story tellers, story telling is ingrained in us. From childhood we are fed on our grandmothers tales — stories/folklores/lullabies. “So it’s inborn in us, we have the habit of listening to stories, and that is our personal world, in which we don’t want anyone to enter. That’s our personal moment. Similarly Audible is the same world. No one will judge you in this world of Audible, to what you are listening to. And since Amazon is associated with Audible, it’s going to have a standard. So I think there’s a big market out there,” she said.So what about the podcast appeals to the ‘Kundali Bhagya’ fame actress said, Supriya says: “I was really happy when this project came to me. I know the power of Audible now.
Because it was associated with Amazon so all the more I knew that the quality will be there, I will get to do something which is nice and has a standard to work on as a performer. So when this role came, I took it up, as I haven’t done Audible as such.” “It was a very new experience for me because everything had to be just heard. So all your reactions, eyes, body, costumes aren’t going to help you, but your voice is a tool with which you are going to portray a character. This was challenging for me and I really wanted to take this challenge,” she said. “This lady whom I am portraying runs ‘Hello Jaanu’, she is full of life. She is happy, wants to explore life. This was one thing that basically drew me in, and the power of podcast Audible, is so much powerful these days. It’s a boon for those who do not have separate TV’s at home, for them it’s like their own world. “People can listen anything they want to on podcast, without being judged. So that’s also one thing that made me do it,” said Supriya.Asked if she followed any specific process for the role, the ‘Molkki’ actress said, “all the tools of an actor are always sharpened—whether it’s their voice, projection of voice, diction, eyes etc. an actor keeps on exploring till his/her death. This role is that’s why different, because you are not seen but only heard. And for that you have to bind the audience. You have to make them believe that I am only Gurpreet. And this is not easy, because you don’t get the help of your eyes, hands, and gestures. All your expressions have to come in your voice.” “I have not done any special preparations, but I have recited few lines with my eyes closed. I was trying to visualise myself. It was exciting. I controlled all my senses and had put it in my voice,” she said.On what audience can expect from the show, the ‘Main Tera Hero’ actress said, “they can experience something very exciting. Something where they can cry, smile, be excited about. We have touched many aspects. It explores that you can talk to anyone about anything.
The show will help them look at life from a different angle.”Supriya has a two decade long career. Talking about her graph and if there are any regrets, she said, “there is no regret”. “I started working when I was in the college. And then I got married at the age of 21. My life is “touchwood” very beautiful. I gave my kids all the time they required during their childhood. That’s why I started doing television a bit late. “Offers used to come, but you know TV needs time and concentration. So I didn’t want to divide my attention between my children and my career.” “But now I am a free bird, I can freely go for outdoor shootings, I have nobody to answer to now. I am very happy the way my life has shaped up. God has been really kind to me,” she said. On her dream role, Supriya said, “Every role is a challenge for you. It comes with its own nuances, journey. The character has to be strong enough which makes me drive to the location. It has to excite me. So every role is my dream role.” ‘Hello Jaanu’ stars Adaa Khan and Supriya Shukla. Vaidehi (Adaa Khaan), Kesar, Radhika and Hema have a secret. During the day, when their husbands are at work, they work for a fantasy call line Hello Jaanu, run by Gurpreet Aunty. Working under a pseudonym, they have the freedom to fully explore their own fantasies with the strangers who call the service.What starts as a pleasurable little side job soon turns into chaos. Vaidehi receives a call from a new customer who turns out to be her own husband. Then, just as she’s working to investigate why her husband is searching outside of their marriage for companionship, all of the women begin receiving strange phone calls threatening to expose them to their families and everyone they know.Who has a vendetta against them and can they solve the mystery before they lose everything?