India, July 16 -- After headlining some of television's longest-running daily soaps, Smita Bansal is ready to turn the page. The actor, who will next be seen in an upcoming finite television series, says she consciously chose to move away from the familiar world of saas-bahu dramas, looking instead for stories and characters that challenge her creatively. Speaking to HT City, Bansal admits that after years of playing mothers and mothers-in-law, she had reached a stage where she was eager to break free from the image television had created for her. While she understands why actors often get boxed into familiar roles, she believes the industry's tendency to "play safe" often comes at the cost of creative exploration.

"Everyone wants to pla...