India, Sept. 19 -- She has spent four decades in the film industry, but Soni Razdan says she was written off very early. The veteran actor, currently starring in the film Om Ka Hari, talks to Hindustan Times about how her acting journey began and why she faced difficulties because she wanted to be an actor first rather than a star.

Soni was 25 when she made her film debut with Aparna Sen's 36 Chowringhee Lane in a supporting role. She followed it up with supporting roles in Esmayeel Shroff's Ahista Ahista and Shyam Benegal's Mandi. The actor says it was a conscious choice to go for these films. "I'm not saying I didn't want to be a star, but I wanted to be an actor first. Then, you want to have the stardom along with that. That just give...