Jaya Bhattacharya told why she took an 8-year break, said- she used to knit sweaters and make shawls and shoes

I started doubting 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 also offering me the role of Payal (Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi). There was nothing special 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 or the other. Such a turn comes in everyone's life. Then I decided that even if I have to disappear to get out of all this, 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 with writing and producing the show as well as costumes and other arrangements. After this, my thinking about the people working behind the camera developed 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 do 25 works even during holidays.

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

I stay at my animal centre during my holidays. I have an NGO that works for animals. When the entire village was washed away in the flood in Srinagar, I was short of money, but I wanted to help people. Then I sat at home and knitted sweaters, made shawls and shoes and sent them with the help of an army friend. I like to keep 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 a Kathak dancer. I have been learning Kathak and singing since the age of five. My mother was also a classical singer. She would make me sit next to her and practice. I learned classical singing from Bhatkhande Sanskrit University and dance from Kathak Sansthan. Both these things helped me a lot in acting because I had never learned acting before. Now whenever I feel like it, I sing and dance at home. Such things give me a lot of happiness.

I am 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. Although 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 always a loss in not joining groups and parties formed in the industry. Like I don't get to know which new project is going to come. However, I have been lucky because I was called in the film world and given work. I want to work in films and web series in the future too. I know that I deserve it. I have never made friends with anyone for 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, even my neighbours used to taunt me.

Earlier, women artists did not get much respect from people. I went to some 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 because she wants financial benefits. In a way, this is also a negative role, but it has many shades. Like sometimes I shower love on my step son, and sometimes I become polite in front of my mother-in-law. I have already done two shows with this production house, so working with them once again makes me feel at home.