Over the next few months, 7de Laan aficionados will see fresh and, in some instances, familiar faces popping up on their screen. The gorgeous Durban actress Kajal Bhagwandeen will be among them. She has been cast as Asha Sharma, Gita McGregor’s new assistant at Hillside Travel.
While accustomed to being in front of the camera (she starred in the movie Jozi; Naresh Veeran’s directorial debut effort, For Better For Worse; as well as, some time back, presented SABC2’s Dharma Moments) she is currently working for Eastern Mosaic as a field reporter, but this is her first big break in television.
About a week into being on set of the soap, Bhagwandeen says: “It has been good. I am settling in quite well and quickly.”
And she couldn’t be more chuffed at the opportunity.
“With me based in Durban, auditions for TV and films don’t come around frequently. I went for the audition, got a call two weeks later to say I’m on the shortlist and then, last month, was told they loved me for the part.
“As an actress, you go to many auditions and do your best, but you have no expectations. So I was pleasantly surprised when I got the call. And it is a great start to 2012,” she smiles.
It is common knowledge that soaps, with the exception of M-Net’s The Wild, are shot with multicams. For newbies, it can derail their performance in the initial days. But Bhagwandeen says her schooling during the shooting of Jozi eliminated that challenge.
She explains: “The great thing about 7de Laan is that they operate like clockwork. We sit with the block director in the morning, then rehearse with the vocal coach, go to hair and make-up and then shoot our scene. Having those inter- actions really helps you with your scene.”
Although most of her lines are in English in the Afrikaans soap, Bhagwandeen says it is important to understand the language. And she does.
In the storyline currently being shot, Asha is fast-becoming good friends with San-Mari (played by Amalia Uys).
“Asha is part of the jong klub (young club),” chuckles Bhagwandeen.
As for whether her character is a bit close to the bone, she says: “Asha is 28, but her father never permitted her to work. Somehow she convinces him to allow her move to Joburg and work for Gita, who wasn’t too sure about employing her, but saw how passionate she was and gave her the job.
“There are things in Asha I identify in myself. I come from a traditional family. The difference is that my parents allowed us to be independent. Ironically, Asha stays with her aunt and I have opted to do the same for my duration here.”
Commenting on the stereo- typing of actors, she explains: “I think it happens a lot in American movies. But in South Africa, especially the movies, is more progressive.
“In Jozi, I played one of four characters living in a commune – it had nothing to do with me being Indian. Yes, Indians are generally discouraged from getting into this field. Parents always advise them to study medicine, law, or journalism, as they see that as a positive thing.
“But acting doesn’t have to be a struggling profession – there is scope for actors. You just have to work really hard.”
While Bhagwandeen is grateful to be making inroads in the TV sector, as has Krijay Govender (Isidingo), Sorisha Naidoo (Scandal) and Leeanda Reddy (Isidingo), she hasn’t forsaken her love for theatre and dancing.
To date, she has impressed in an array of dance pieces, musicals such as Chalo Cinema, Bombay Crush, Sophiatown, Thunsil and Jimbo, to highlight just a few.
“When I return home, I am doing a dance workshop. I had a choice between a dance production and 7de Laan and chose the latter because it was a new and exciting adventure. But I don’t want to lose touch with my love for dance and theatre. I’d love to focus on film and, if opportunities for musicals, dance work, or drama come up, I’ll go for it. I’m rather excited to see what else comes my way.”
In the meantime, the actress, who could easily be pegged for a Bollywood starlet, is determined to absorb as much knowledge as she can to hone her craft.
• Kajal Bhagwandeen debuts on SABC2’s 7de Laan on March 12.