The stories of change: Meinal Vaishnav

Meinal Vaishnav, who portrays the lead character Dr Sneha Mathur in the ‘Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon’ (MKBKSH) on DD National, will be back for season 3 with an empowering new slogan ‘Main Desh Ka Chehra Badal Doongee’.

The show is about a young doctor Sneha Mathur, who leaves a lucrative career in Mumbai and chooses to practice in her village. In her quest, Dr Sneha wants to ensure that everyone in the village gets quality healthcare. Under Dr Sneha’s tutelage, the women in the village find their voices through collective action.

Excerpts from an interview:

What kind of preparation did you undergo for this role?
I am very much in sync with my character as Dr Sneha Mathur. While reading the script for the new season gave me a better insight on the role, I also familiarised myself with the health issues and socio-cultural practices in rural areas by reading literature on the subject. This, together with detailed discussions with our director and writer on the character, her strong beliefs and the difficulties she has to face, helped me understand and become Dr Sneha Mathur.

What was the USP to say yes to MKBKSH?
Unlike most television shows, ‘MKBKSH’ is a show that stays away from cheap, meaningless entertainment. It aims to serve lives. It focuses on making things better for our society and has a purpose beyond mere entertainment. It inspires, educates, and empowers women and in that process, puts a lot of things in the right perspective. Getting to work on this show has been more of a blessing than a mere choice.

The show has influenced so many people, how do you feel about it?
After we started shooting for the show, we visited multiple small cities across the country. When we met and interacted with local people, we were overwhelmed with the impact the show had on them. When I heard their stories, I realised that I am able to contribute to the betterment of someone’s life. Life has made me a part of this beautiful campaign.

What attracted you to begin a career as an actor?
I never intended to become an actor. After my friends persuaded me, I acted in a few television commercials. But after working on ‘MKBKSH’, I realised the responsibility of an actor. I realised that because of the medium we work with, we have great power and people follow us. They get inspired by us. So, it’s a huge opportunity for us to inspire them in a way that makes their lives better. This made me realise that I stand at a position of great responsibility. So, now, it’s all about inspiring more and more lives, inclusive of mine.

Describe your acting style.
There’s no acting style. My Guru, mentor, teacher, director, Feroz Abbas Khan always tells us not to act. I just try to understand the character that I am playing and where she comes from. I try to understand her journey, her purpose, her ideology, etc. When I have to perform a scene, I simply become that character and try to understand what is happening in the scene and what is the purpose of the dialogue. Rest is just wordplay.