Sandhya Mridul on the influx of OTT: I can get projects that give scope for the versatility I always aimed for

One can understand Sandhya Mridul's approval of Taj: Divided by Blood. Throughout her 29-year career, the actor, who plays Jodha Bai in the ZEE5 historical drama, has only selected roles that have struck a chord with her.

Sandhya told Mid Day that she performed exciting work for television on shows like Swabhimaan, Banegi Apni Baat, and Koshish Ek Asha. But after that, Saas-Bahu was the focus of attention. She thus took a two-year break.

The actor, who has now gone on to work in a number of films, is happy that the OTT explosion has given Indian entertainment access to a new language. Now, because of OTT, she can work on projects that allow her to be as versatile as she has always wanted to be. In the next few months, an Applause show she recently finished will be released online.

Sandhya says that the rise of digital entertainment has made businesses move away from classic hero-heroine stories. She remembers a time when she was given a leading woman role but was criticised for being "arrogant" when she inquired about the job.

She was asked what she had to do with the character when she inquired about the nature of her role. Six songs are included, and the hero must be courted, which was mentioned. Nevertheless, she persisted in being aware of the game she was playing. Her secretary asked why the actor was asking this question. When she wasn't, she was thought to be haughty. Sandhya knew exactly which portions she wanted to do.

Sandhya appears opposite Naseeruddin Shah in Taj: Divided by Blood, which is streaming on ZEE5. Dharmendra, Rahul Bose, Aditi Rao Hydari, Zarina Wahab, Aashim Gulati, and Taaha Shah also appear in the main roles of the historical drama.

The narrative, which takes place in the sixteenth century, centres on Akbar and the battle for power between his three sons, Salim, Murad, and Daniyal. It is a warped story of the battle for control that is rife with risky politics, poetic beauty, savage love, icy deceit, and slaughter. Each figure in the Mughal empire had several levels revealed by the series. The musical dramatises the rise and collapse of the many Mughal dynasties, displaying both the splendour and the savagery of the empire.