"Filmmakers Are Still Disquit To Sign TV Actors", Says "Cold Lassi And Chicken Masala" Series Star Divyanka Tripathi

Popular TV actress Divyanka Tripathi and Rajeev Khandelwal’s much-awaited web series Cold Lassi and Chicken Masala have been receiving a mixed response from the audience.

While the performances of the actors like Rajeev and Divyanka have been appreciated, the lacklustre storyline of the series hasn’t impressed many.

Divyanka Tripathi, who is also seen playing the lead character in popular daily soap Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, made her digital debut with this ALTBalaji's series. Played the character of chef Nitya, the actor has donned a modern look, ditching her so-called saree-look bahu avatar.

In a recent chat with the media, Divyanka shared that doing Cold Lassi Aur Chicken Masala series was her way to experiment and learn from a different role. But she is clear that she wouldn’t go all out when it comes to bold content in the digital space.

“I am still not ready for a lot of things. I feel the webspace is still experimenting since we don’t know what exactly works in the medium. So every time sex or thrill works in a show, more similar projects are launched. Also, I feel that it’s not necessary to portray intimacy outright. Something should be left to the imagination of the audience. It should never be cringeworthy. I also want that whatever work I do, the whole family can sit and watch it together.”

Divyanka Tripathi also opened up about the television industry and how it is finally changing with actors seen beyond their characters.

She shared, “After Dulhan went off the air, I had no work. People told me that I won’t be accepted in any other character. That’s when I decided to break the image and did some comedy shows - fiction and non-fiction. Post a long struggle, I was offered Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. But now, things are changing for the better. Today audiences accept working women and even flawed characters. Yes, there’s still a long way to go but things are moving towards a positive direction.”

When asked what has kept her away from the films for so long, Divyanka Tripathi shared, “I usually get offers of glam dolls which I don’t want to do. I feel I am quite versatile and can give a lot to any character. I want to be challenged but such roles don’t come especially when you work on television. There is still an apprehension among filmmakers to take small screen actors.

I don’t know why but maybe they feel we will overact or don’t understand their working style. But that’s not the case. We are trained to work under pressure and work a lot. Also, every television actor who moved to Bollywood did manage to make an impact on their performance.”

Lastly, when the media asked about her experience working with Rajeev Khandelwal in Cold Lassi and Chicken Masala, the Divyanka said, “I have never followed television too much but knew that his character Sujal was quite popular. I knew I was working with a star who has proved his worth on all mediums. But I got to understand his fandom when my relatives called me saying that they want to meet Sujal, and get a picture clicked with him (laughs). This was the first time that something like this happened and I was amazed.”

The second lead character of Cold Lass Aur Chicken Masala, Rajeev Khandelwal is also opened up about web series and his working experience with Divyanka, "I never intended to be part of the rat race because I do not look at life only around my acting career. From my childhood, I have many dreams - of travelling, doing different things, exploring, driving, and much more. If I devote myself only to acting and if my life's goal would be only to remain visible with whatever acting assignment comes my way, my vision would become narrow," Rajeev told IANS.

Sharing his thoughts behind choosing scripts, Rajeev said, "Initially I look for a connect with the story. I want to look at my career and feel satisfied with the kind of films or stories that I am part of. Aamir' was one such film for me."

Cold Lassi Aur Chicken Masala is an Indian romantic comedy web series starring Divyanka Tripathi and Rajeev Khandelwal. It is Produced by Doris Dey and directed by Pradeep Sarkar. The filming of the series began in February 2019 in Vadodara.

The story of the series revolves around two hotel management students, Nitya, and Vikram who later become chefs. It also marks the debut of TV actress Divyanka Tripathi in the digital medium. The series premiered and started streaming on 3 September 2019 on ALT Balaji and Zee5.