Jaya Bhattacharya told why she took an 8 year break, said she knitted sweaters and made shawls and shoes

I was beginning to doubt my acting skills
I was constantly getting negative roles. Due to this, I decided to take a break from 2007 to 2015. Not just negative roles, people were offering me the role of Payal (Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi). There was nothing much to experiment with as an artist in those roles. I was bored of all this. I started doubting my acting. When you get bored of something, you have to take some step. Such a turn comes in everyone’s life. Then I decided that if I have to disappear to get out of all this, then I am ready for that too.

Took a break and worked behind the camera

During my break from acting, I was working behind the camera with producer-director Siddharth Nagar. I helped him/her with writing and producing the show as well as with costumes and other arrangements. After this, my thinking about the people working behind the camera evolved further. I understood how hard they work to make us look good on camera. I have been working in this industry since class 11. I am not one of those who sit idle. I manage to do 25 jobs even on holidays.

Sweaters were knitted and shawls and shoes were made and sent to Srinagar

I stay in my animal centre during my holidays. I have an NGO which works for animals. When the entire village was washed away by the flood in Srinagar, I was short of money but I wanted to help the people. Then I sat at home and knitted sweaters, made shawls and shoes and sent them with the help of an army friend. I enjoy keeping myself busy because resting is against my principles. During one of my shows, I stitched four frocks overnight for a little girl (character). I have also stitched many designer curtains.

Dance and music are very useful during acting

My father wanted me to become a classical singer or Kathak dancer. I have been learning Kathak since the age of five and also singing. My mother was also a classical singer. She used to make me sit with her and practice. I took classical singing lessons from Bhatkhande Sanskrit University and learned dance from Kathak Institute. Both these things were very useful in acting because I had not learned acting before. Now, whenever I feel like it, I sing and dance at home. Such things give me immense happiness.

I am actually ashamed to dance on social media

The actress, who mostly posts comic reels, says that nowadays the craze for followers has increased so much that one has to do something or the other. Well, it is the era of reels but I am not able to dance according to it because I feel shy. Some of my friends told me not to post videos of animals getting injured, this reduces followers. For a long time in between, I did not upload videos because I was not able to understand anything. Then I thought that only that content will be on my page, which I really am.

I want to build a hospital for animals

There is a loss due to not joining the groups and parties formed in the industry. Like I am not able to know which new project is coming. However, I have been lucky because I was called and given work in the film world. I want to work in films and web series in the future too. I know that I am worthy of that. I have never befriended anyone because of what I will get, on the contrary, I give something from my side. I am not fond of diamonds, pearls, expensive cars. I want to build a hospital for animals. I want to stay there and go for shooting from there because acting is my love.

In the beginning, my neighbors used to taunt me too.

Earlier, women artists did not get much respect from people. I went to a few programs as a chief guest but returned disappointed. Due to this, I did not go there after that. When I started working, my neighbors used to taunt me that I work with boys. After becoming famous, many of those neighbors told me to bring my children into this field. Now the industry has progressed a lot. Today everyone wants their child to come into the entertainment industry.

My character has many different shades

I am playing the role of Badi Bahu Urmila in ‘Chhathi Maiya Ki Bitiya’ who is the step mother of the lead actor Ashish Dixit. She pretends to love him/her because she wants financial benefits. In a way, this is also a negative role but it also has many different shades. Like sometimes I shower love on my step son, sometimes I become polite in front of my mother-in-law. I have done two shows with this production house before, so working with them once again is giving me a feeling of being at home.