‘I like to address Ekta as madam’

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She is one the most popular faces on television to portray the quintessential Indian mother, albeit with shades of grey. But despite years of experience in showbiz, Usha Nadkarni believes in maintaining protocol. The actress, who plays the popular role of Savita Deshmukh in Pavitra Rishta, insists on addressing Ekta Kapoor, the producer of the show, as “madam”. “I am 67-years- old and she much younger of course, but I call her ‘madam’ because I like to keep things professional,” she says. Talking about the television doyenne, she adds, “The first time I waked into her office, it almost felt like I was setting foot in a temple. There were so many of God’s frames and idols all over the place, that I asked her if I should leave my footwear outside.”
Usha, who is also part of a new show called Mrs Pammi Pyarelal, is excited about donning a rather different role as a retired jailer. “The show is on the same lines as the Marathi film Ashi Hi Banwa Banvi — directed by Sachin Pilgaonker in the year1988. The late actor Laxmikant Berde had played the role that Gaurav Gera will be portraying on the show,” she says.
While Usha loves going to work even today, she admits that things have changed over the years, and not necessarily for the better. “It’s common for youngsters on the sets these days to be distracted by their mobile phones. A lot of time is wasted because of that. It’s not something I appreciate much. For me, the phone ceases to exist on the sets. I put it on silent and place it in my bag when I reach the sets and reach for it only after the shoot is over.”