With Star Plus show, Mariam Khan – Reporting Live, taking a leap and Mahima Makwana entering as lead, replacing child artist, Deshna Duggad, we spoke to Sheena Bajaj, who plays Mariam’s elder sister, Meher Khan.
“Post leap, my lawyer character is shattered, with her abbu Majaaz Khan (Khalid Siddiqui) dying, and youngest sister, Mariam, going missing. However, she rises from the ashes when Mumani wants to take over the house, superseding Madeeha (Rukhsar Rehman). Eventually, she and Mariam (as reporter) join hands to prove in court that their father was not a terrorist.”
Here Sheena, who had previously done shows like Thapki Pyar Ki, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, etc., says, “Although I am aware that with a new lead coming in, the focus will indeed shift on her, yet, being a practical actor, I will not argue with my producer (Somersault Productions). It is now old news that initially I was supposed to be the lead, but then, with a change in writers and numbers not coming, the makers and channel were forced to bring in the leap. I am shooting a tad less, but it is okay. Being a confident performer, I know that even if I am given one or two scenes a day, I can make a powerful impact.”
She added: “This show has been a kind of revelation for me, that I can also pull off the role of a strong, opinionated woman, for until now, I was only doing bubbly, vibrant roles. This will hold me in good stead, down the road. I am quite young, so have a long way to go, and am sure big success will come my way. A lot also boils down to luck. If your show does well you are snug, and vice versa. Also, if in the future something better comes along, I will decide then, but right now my lawyer character is my sole preoccupation.”
Sheena, who was last seen in a cameo in Savitri Devi College & Hospital, also dismissed media reports that had suggested that she had a spat with co-star, Priyanka Kandwal (Mahira), over hairstyle and makeup. “It never happened, and anyways, I am not hung up on these things.” However, she did accept that she was not very pally with Priyanka. “But this is natural; you don’t jell with all, right?”
We wish her well.