The comedic character Pani Bablovska, created by actor and comedian Oleksandr Stepanenko, has long ceased to be just a character from "Liha Smikhu". The heroine, familiar to Ukrainian viewers as a wealthy lady with a strong character, now has her own songs, music videos, and an entire "Bablovska Universe". In a lighthearted blitz interview published by Styler, Stepanenko, in character as Pani Bablovska, answered questions about his first impressions of show business, his attitude toward money, choosing shooting partners, and advice that "should not be listened to".
First impressions: "Where have I ended up?"
When asked what surprised him most about show business after his first releases, Pani Bablovska admitted she thought the hardest part of life was already behind her. "And here it turns out that recording a song is only half the battle. Then there's the music video, photoshoot, interviews, replying to everyone, and looking decent while doing it all," the character said. At the same time, Stepanenko emphasized that the character "always wanted to be interesting, and not just about pots, the market, and weather talk". Now Pani Bablovska has songs, shoots, and concerts, although, in his words, "the pots haven't gone anywhere either".
"Jokes" and personal stories: release strategy
When Pani Bablovska’s songs are dismissed as "just a joke", the character retorts: "People laugh at the song, and then they go and sing it all day long. Maybe it's not such a joke after all?" Asked about his readiness to release something highly personal, Stepanenko responded in character that the heroine has "enough such stories for a whole album, or even more than one", but "I won't put it all out at once. People need to be curious about what comes next". Thus, the "Bablovska Universe" is built on the principle of serialized storytelling — with intrigue and gradual disclosure of material.
Financial philosophy: "Money should bring joy"
Discussing what Pani Bablovska would never regret spending money on, Stepanenko mentioned travel, guests, and grandchildren. "I spent so many years at home that now, when I see a ticket, my hand reaches for my wallet," the character explained. She separately highlighted the principle: "What kind of life is it when you put everything off until later? 'Later' might never come." At the same time, Pani Bablovska refuses to spend on "flexing" and expensive things bought solely to "prove something to a neighbor". She also saves money on men who "promise golden mountains and then can't pay for coffee": "I don't need to raise another grandchild; I have enough of my own."
The "Lady on the Beach" video and choosing Aram Arzumanyan
In the "Lady on the Beach" video, Pani Bablovska's partner was Aram Arzumanyan. Stepanenko explained the choice by saying that "he is funny": "Aram is charismatic, has a good feel for humor, and isn't lost in front of the camera. And I needed a partner with whom I could play out a whole story, not just stand nearby, smile, and leave." Thus, in the "Bablovska Universe", shoots are built not on static aesthetics, but on lively comedic interaction in the frame.
Modern man, female friendship, and the "stupidest advice"
Describing the ideal modern man, Pani Bablovska listed three conditions: "not stingy", "has a sense of humor", and "keeps his word". A woman, according to her, "should be a character — so she can joke and stand up for herself". The main principle is: "You don't need to change yourself for anyone. Today he likes one thing, tomorrow another, and the day after tomorrow he went fishing anyway. And what, are we going to redesign ourselves every time?"
Regarding friendship, the character replied: "I believe in strong friendship. It's when you can call at night, and the person doesn't ask 'What happened?', but asks 'Where to drive?'". Gender, according to her, doesn't matter: "The main thing is that there's no envy and no counting who called whom how many times". And Pani Bablovska called "you need to be more modest" the stupidest advice: "Why? So that I’m noticed less? I’ve lived so many years, only to hide behind a curtain now? No, my dears..."
