Deepika Singh: Being a dancer and mother is a full-time job

While she has not been seen much on screen after Diya Aur Baati Hum ended in 2016 save for the finite series Kavach MahaShivratri Deepika Singh has not had a moment of rest Motherhood duties learning a dance form and shooting ads kept the actor busy Eight years after her longrunning show ended she is back on television with Mangal Lakshmi In conversation with midday the actor talks about returning to work after motherhood and highlighting sisterhood through her latest showEdited excerpts from the interviewYou didnrsquot do any daily soap between Diya Aur Baati Hum and Mangal Lakshmi What have you been doing in the interimI did Kavach but I didnrsquot take up any daily soaps because after Diya Aur Baati Hum ended I was pregnant with Sohum I took up Kavach because it was only a 45day shoot Since 2014 I have also been learning the Odissi dance form It has been a lifelong dream to dance I had my exams in December for which I got the vishaarad the complete expert from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal now Irsquom awaiting the results Now I am at a stage where I can teach the dance form to othersWhen did Mangal Lakshmi come your wayI have been in talks since November I knew the shoot would start in January so I completed my theory exam in November and practicals in December The show is relatable Thatrsquos why agreeing to do it was easyItrsquos interesting to see that the show focuses on the need for respect which is often lost between married couplesIt will focus on how Mangal Singhrsquos character is looking for an ideal partner for Lakshmi her cousin While love is important she wants her sister to be respected in her relationship She wants Lakshmi to not experience what she had to go throughSometimes a partner doesnrsquot even realise they are being illtreated Is the showrsquos messaging about gaslightingMy character is not melodramatic so itrsquos subtly shown that she is content with her life and doesnrsquot realise what is happening with her She is yet to realise that she is being disrespected by her husband Mangal belongs to a poor family she believes she has to be grateful for whatever she has and always has a smile on her face She doesnrsquot talk about her difficulties to others The show also focuses on the sisterhood between the two key characters which is rarely shown on Indian televisionThis is Sanika Gaikwadrsquos Lakshmi first daily soap Was it difficult establishing chemistry with herSome years ago I also had my first day and everyone has had that People learn on the job so will Sanika She is a radio jockey and an intelligent artiste Our team is also supportive They help her if she doesnrsquot understand something She is a quick learner I wouldnrsquot go out of my way to guide her because I donrsquot like intruding in anyonersquos learning process Whenever she asks for help Irsquom there for herAfter being at home for long do you like the change in your scheduleWhile I was at home I was still working 16 hours a day Being a dancer and a mother is a fulltime job I was never a fulltime mom Even then I was busy with dance classes ad shoots or some event Initially Sohum would see me around the house but now that I am shooting he sees less of me Thatrsquos why I took more time after my pregnancy to train him Now Irsquove enrolled Sohum in gymnastics and music he is also busy I am also grateful to my sisterinlaw and motherinlaw for taking care of him in my absenceDo you miss working with director husband Rohit Raj Goyal after Diya Aur Baati HumNot really because he is always with me He is like my guru in acting I am grateful to all the directors who have taught me something I will shoot a promo for my show with him soon