In our series on lives that touch television actors, last week we discussed how Dr Kajal Rohira helped them cross hurdles with tarot card reading. This week, we bring before you a lady who is the 'Annapoorna' in the TV industry.

At her task of providing healthy food

Mona Singh, Rakshanda Khan, Gaurav Gera, Simone Singh, Smriti Irani, Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, Tasneem Sheikh, Nausheen Ali Sardar… the list is endless. TV's saases, bahus and Jassis all eat out of her hands.

So how did catering happen? "My husband Pratim Parekh is an actor. His colleagues enjoyed the food I would pack in the tiffin. They found the food to be of better quality than that served at the sets. They requested me to send tiffin for them too. One led to another and soon many actors started placing orders with me," says Sonali.

Sonali Parekh is a dietician by profession and last year she launched Vital Foods, a company that caters food to actors on the sets anytime, anywhere.

Pratim says, "I am very proud of her. This is the first time she has started a business and she is successful at it. She handles it alone".

The team behind 'Vital Foods'

"My patients placed orders with me. That was my initial step towards catering. Now I cater to industrialists, law firms, builders, designers and photographers," she adds.

"I have appeared on ETV's Sakhi to guide people on their diets. I have also given lectures at Lions Club and Rotary Club events. I feel very happy about the service I provide. This is like public service and I want to reach out to more people," she says.

But the job isn't as easy as it sounds. "Oh! I'm always tense. I'm worried about the non-Jain food going to a Jain client. Sometimes the delivery boys get late. I start getting calls from my clients asking when the food will be delivered," she laughs.

"Once, one of the boys was caught by an RTO. He didn't have the relevant papers of the scooter. God! It took a long time to sort out the issue. In the meantime, my client, missed his lunch," she says.

Truly! She is the one without whom the TV industry would starve!

This is the second of a series of features on the people who are the support system of the telly industry.

Pics by Vicky Ahuja