Himani Shivpuri: Want a break from TV as I want to do better things

Actor Himani Shivpuri wants to take a break from her ongoing daily soap to focus on films and theatre, feeling the daily grind has become too monotonous. Despite TV's tempting security, the actor wants to give time to herself, write and direct. She has no problems with the medium but wants to do better things. She recently shot a film in Lucknow and completed a play with Rajendra Gupta.

Actor Himani Shivpuri wants to take a break from her ongoing daily soap to dabble more in films and theatre. With a career spanning over four decades, the actor feels the daily grind has become “too much and monotonous.”

Himani Shivpuri in Lucknow to attend the ongoing Intentional Children Film Festival at City Montessori School.

On her visit to Lucknow, the actor says, “Daily soap is a very tough thing to do. I tried to balance it with films and theatre but now it’s getting too much. It has been four years now and Happu Ki Ultan Paltan has completed 1,000 episodes. I have resigned earlier too and again I have tendered my resignation from the show but every time the team gets after me. I am so soft-hearted that I am yet to learn to say no but this time I have decided.”

She agrees that TV is tempting. “As an actor we get greedy as we don’t have a permanent job, and this is a very secure income. I kept on for so long as my character is good, and you get attached. But ab ki baar maine mann pakka kar liya hai. I want to give time to myself, theatre, write and get into direction. I had to let go of some very good projects due to my hectic shooting schedule including a film with Taapsee Pannu which needed 25 days.”

Three months back she shot a film in Lucknow. “I was recently here to shoot Binny Aur Baba with Pankaj Kapur and Rajesh Sharma. I had a good time here shopping and savouring the local delicacies. Besides, I have also completed the shooting for the film Dukaan which stars Jamtara actor Monika Panwar and Sikandar Kher. I am also doing theatre. I did a solo play Akeli in Patna, then another as the protagonist in Bhopal and along with Rajendra Gupta have prepared a play Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai which we opened in National Theatre Festival in February. So, I have been balancing the three but ab thoda mushkil ho raha hai,” says the actor who was in city to attend the Intentional Children Film Festival underway at City Montessori School.