Raveena Tandon Credits Good Karma for Diverse Roles in Successful Projects

Actor Raveena Tandon believes that in order to be a part of amazing projects, whether they are on the big screen or streaming platforms, she has to have done some good actions over her 33-year career. This statement comes as the series "Karmma Calling" has been so successful.

The actress, who is earning appreciation for her portrayal of Indrani Kothari, a Bollywood superstar from the '90s who became a socialite in the Disney+ Hotstar series, said she is pleased with the opportunity to portray characters of different ethnicities during the last two to three years.

She debuted in the web series "Aranyak" on Netflix in 2021, receiving critical praise. The following year, she made her Kannada film debut in "K.G.F: Chapter 2" on the big screen. She received the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honor in India, in 2023.

"I firmly think that karma exists. Everything you release into the world has a complete life cycle and returns. You will harvest what you sow. It doesn't matter whether they are movies I've done in the past, ones I'm working on right now, or even web series like "Aranyak."

"It's a huge hit, and I took home every award; I had a successful year." Next was 'KGF: Chapter 2'. In an interview with PTI, Tandon said, "I'll say I have some good karma working for me that I'm getting these opportunities, be it on streamers or theatrical releases."

Shooting "Welcome 3" at the moment, the National Award winner said it's a nice time for performers since OTT and theatricals have finally found a balance.

"These media work together and support one another. Even for female actresses, it's an exciting period. In the 1990s, an actress's career would end when she got married. She said, "She was supposed to become a mother or sister-in-law or to retire.

Opportunities for female actresses who had reached a "certain middle age" were few in the 1990s, according to 51-year-old Tandon.

"It's great that women are leading the majority of OTT series these days and that females are still receiving significant parts. Previously, males would continue to earn larger and better jobs as they developed into excellent performers in their middle years.

"However, a woman was expected to hang up her boots as soon as she reached a certain middle age, even when she had perfected her craft at that time... when she was almost proficient in her trade. There weren't as many opportunities back then. I'm appreciative of the chance in the world today," she said.

Tandon said that "Karmma Calling" would return for a few more chapters delving further into the 1990s film business, but he is unsure of when season two of "Aranyak" will broadcast.

"There are many moments later in the series, when you hopefully watch seasons two and three, when you'll learn that this really occurs to actors and actresses in our profession. You'll sense that there's a hint of realism mixed in with the fantasy there," she said.

Viewers are first introduced to Tandon's Indrani in "Karmma Calling" as this ice queen who rules the seaside town of Alibaug, which is close to Mumbai. The famous 2011 American television series "Revenge" served as the inspiration for the Hindi adaptation, in which Indrani meets Karma (Namrata Sheth), a lady who seems to be harboring a secret.

Tandon defined her persona as "almost villain-esque" but added there are still more levels to be ununcovered. Tandon said that the only similarity between her and Indrani is that they are both 1990s Bollywood divas.

"The diva of the 1990s, Indrani Kothari, retired. All she is is a socialite. I'm not like that in real life. I've been doing this since the 1990s, and I'm still going strong. It's not as if I've stopped working and am only going to parties.

"She and I are from quite different planets. She is an individual who, given the circumstances, has been victimized. She's fallen victim to a trap. Furthermore, nobody on this earth can force me to do something that I don't want to." The first acting role of her daughter Rasha Thadani excites the actress as well. Ajay Devgan's nephew Aaman Devgan and rookie Rasha are reportedly slated to feature in an Abhishek Kapoor movie.

Tandon said that her 18-year-old daughter has a long road ahead of her, even if it is too soon for her to express her views regarding her daughter's cinematic debut.

"For now, all that matters is the thrill of seeing her first hoarding or advertisement. Similar to when your infant starts to walk, it's a question of firsts. She still has a ways to go and needs more experience to be in that position, however. Everybody has a unique destiny. As a parent, I will always be there to counsel her on good and bad, but there are instances when it's necessary to let your kids make mistakes. They won't ever realize their own potential and qualities if you are always there to catch them when they fall. They must be able to grow from their errors," she said.

Tandon's next projects include "Patna Shukla," which will debut onDisney+ Hotstar in March, and "Ghudchadi," which will also be published directly to digital platforms.