Showing posts with label Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late. Show all posts
Vicky Jain motivates me to try different things-Ankita Lokhande
8:10 AM
Newly wed Ankita on how husband Jain supports her as she returns for a new season of her hit show Pavitra Rishta
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; February 1, 2022)
It has been over a month of revelry and bliss for Ankita Lokhande who tied the knot with Vicky Jain in mid-December. Now, work has come calling. The actor will be seen in the second season of Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late alongside Shaheer Sheikh. She is glad that Sheikh has been accepted in a role that was immortalised by the late Sushant Singh Rajput. “I was sure Shaheer would slip into the character of Manav because he is a great actor. Be it Sushant or some other actor, what matters is that people should be able to connect [with the actor], and the chemistry [between the leads] should work,” says Lokhande.
The revival of Pavitra Rishta last year was not an easy ride. While a section of the audience had cheered Sheikh on, many were irked to see another actor step into Rajput’s shoes. Did the polarising response upset her? “There will be people who will talk [ill of you], and then, there will be those who like your work. I look at the positive side; there is no point in seeing the negative side.”
The second edition of the ZEE5 series begins with central characters Manav and Archana living separately due to a misunderstanding. Asked how it feels to return to work after marriage, Lokhande credits her husband for encouraging her to take up interesting projects. “Vicky is supportive as a husband. He is the one who motivates me to try out different things in life; he pushes me to go and work. That means a lot to me because you need that kind of support. I truly feel like Archana now. It’s a beautiful space to be in.”
After Sushant Singh Rajput moved to films, people started getting in touch with me to headline movies-Shaheer Sheikh
8:18 AM
Playing the role immortalised by Sushant Singh Rajput, Shaheer of Pavitra Rishta 2 on how late actor opened doors for TV actors
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 28, 2021)
Walking into Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late, Shaheer Sheikh knew of the comparisons that would follow. In 2009, the Ekta Kapoor show had been the launchpad of the late Sushant Singh Rajput, with the love story of Manav and Archana immediately endearing him to the masses. This, coupled with the raging success of the first season, meant that Sheikh had a lot of expectations riding on his shoulders.
He admits that the legacy of the show made him nervous about fronting the sequel. “I was a bit nervous initially because it’s a big responsibility. All the characters on the show have been loved, and I am the only addition to the cast. So, I was not sure [of joining the project] in the beginning. But then, I thought I should at least give it a try, and see how the audience responds.”
With the ZEE5 offering that sees Ankita Lokhande reprise her iconic role of Archana, the makers want to give it a fresh take while setting the story in the same universe. “The character [of Manav] and the way he dresses up is the same. The makers [felt] I had the earnestness and innocence that Manav needs. I had to [be true to the character] mentally and emotionally. I tried to make it as real as possible, and didn’t ham or imitate anyone.”
Quiz him if he was among the millions watching Pavitra Rishta religiously when it aired, and the actor says that his busy schedule didn’t afford him the opportunity. “I was doing a daily soap at that time. Pavitra Rishta went on for more than five years; I had seen some of the episodes. I have clear memories of the show, especially the love story between Manav and Archana.”
With the immense popularity of the 2009 show, Rajput had caught the attention of many filmmakers, eventually foraying into movies with Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che (2013). The actor’s transition from television to films was an important statement in itself — until then, a wide chasm separated the two industries, with television being considered Bollywood’s poor cousin.
Sheikh says that Rajput, with his success in films, single-handedly changed the perception of TV actors. “Sushant was the one who broke the barriers and started doing films. He became an inspiration for actors like me, and opened new doors for us. Earlier, nobody would consider a telly artiste for a big budget movie. But after Sushant moved to films, people started getting in touch with me [to headline movies]. That’s the kind of effect he had on the industry.”
Over the past decade, Sheikh has become one of the leading actors of the telly world, with several hit shows to his credit. How does he view the content of Indian television, often called out for being regressive? “I disagree [with the notion]. It’s challenging to entertain families every single evening, for years. That said, I agree our TV industry needs to evolve a little more. We had good content about 20 years ago, but it depends on what we choose to watch. We have to choose our content well.”
For me, nobody can replace Sushant Singh Rajput; Pavitra Rishta’s legacy should go on-Ankita Lokhande
8:15 AM
As netizens call for boycott on 'Pavitra Rishta 2' that sees Shaheer Sheikh step into Rajput’s shoes, leading lady Ankita Lokhande says role immortalised by late actor
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 14, 2021)
To many, Pavitra Rishta is almost inconceivable without the late Sushant Singh Rajput. The 2009 show had brought the actor out of oblivion and into our living rooms, thus sowing the seeds of what was to be a splendid career. So, it is understandable when his former partner-actor Ankita Lokhande — who reprises the role of Archana in the upcoming Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late — says that returning to the set was an emotional affair. “When I listened to the title song, Aasman mein jab tak sitare rahenge, it pinched me hard. There are a lot of memories [attached to] the song. I got goosebumps and started crying because I have lived the character of Archana for 12 years,” begins Lokhande.
In the ZEE5 offering, Shaheer Sheikh has the tall order of playing Manav, a role immortalised by Rajput. Lokhande has faith in her co-star’s abilities as she states that he was her first choice for the leading man. “I wanted Shaheer to play the role. I have seen his work; he has the [required] innocence in his eyes. He can convey a lot without uttering a word.”
It goes without saying that reliving Archana and Manav’s journey is not the same without Rajput by her side. “For me, nobody can replace Sushant on the show because he created Manav. Hiten [Tejwani] stepped in later and gave his [own interpretation] to the role. Similarly, Shaheer has created his own [rendition]. People have seen Sushant and me [as the original pair], but we are actors who create chemistry with our co-stars.”
The news of Pavitra Rishta’s revival drew polarising responses. Where some fans cheered it on, many were angry that Rajput’s iconic role would be essayed by someone else. Soon, #BoycottPavitraRishta2 started trending on social media.
Lokhande tries to understand their intent behind the action as she says, “Everyone has [strong] emotions attached to Sushant, and is a true fan. It’s their thought process, and I am no one to comment on it. They are in so much pain. But they have to understand that the show is also my baby, and I am not taking advantage of anybody. I am recreating something that was beautiful. The show’s legacy should go on.”
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