Actress Priti Amin who essayed the role of Neerja in Kathaa Ankahee has joined the cast of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, the long-running and popular show on Star Plus. In the new generation cast, she shoulders the responsibility of playing the role of Akshara, who is the mother to Abhira, the female lead.
The actress accepted this big task of carrying forward the legacy of Akshara in her new style.
In a candid and exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz.com, Priti Amin talks about her challenges in playing Akshara and about the new start she has bagged.
Read on.
How has the preparation been for getting into the shoes of Akshara?
It came as a surprise to me and all of it happened overnight. All I could do was watch a few episodes of the earlier Akshara in action to get an idea of it. I wasn’t given any specific instructions from the creative team to enact it the way Pranali Rathod was doing it. They only explained the character, and what they expected. There was no emulation of how Akshara was played by Pranali. Wherever needed, the creative team guided me about the nuances and the needed reactions.
How have you planned to play this part?
As I said earlier, it was a surprise that I got offered Akshara. Every nuance that you will see from me, has been helped by the creative team. I have also watched the earlier Akshara in action.
How is it to work with Samridhii Shukla?
You need to watch for that and tell us!! We clicked as friends. We gel very well from the beginning. The bond that Akshara and Abhira share is more of friendship than being the mother and daughter. Only both of us were shooting for the first two days. Any improvisation from me would spontaneously meet with Samridhii’s reaction and vice versa. We were able to understand each other from the first day.
Viewers miss you as Neerja in Katha Ankahee? How was it to transform from one important role to another?
After I finished Kathaa Ankahee, I was planning to go on a holiday. I had actually booked my tickets and packed my bag. But overnight, I got a call that this show was happening, and I had been finalized. Well, the transition was just overnight. But it took time for the thought to sink into my mind that I played Akshara in this Director’s Kut show which has been on for 15 years.
What advice did you get from the makers when you got this role?
Nothing in particular. It was more regarding the story, of what they want from the new Akshara. They wanted me to carry on the legacy of the earlier Akshara. They were clear in their graph. They wanted someone with this soft nature, yet very stern, very clear about her thoughts, just like how Akshara was. They wanted a good performer and someone who was closely resembling Pranali. They were checking on what I could do and what I could not do. They did not have any special instructions for me in that case.
What are your expectations from this role?
I did not have any expectations. It would sound cliche, but this is true. I was not even expecting something like this. Even after I signed the contract, it did not sync into my mind that I played Akshara. When my Director would call me Akshara, it took me some time to understand that I was playing Akshara.
Have you followed Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai? What do you think about this show which is going strong even in its fourth generation story?
I was watching Yeh Rishta during the first generation. Also, during its second generation, I followed it to some extent. I could not continue to watch after that. I was mesmerized to know that this show has been running for so long. We have seen shows ending in a span of less than a year. I felt that this team must be strong and united, completely in sync, like one fabric woven together to have such a successful and established show running well even after years.
Your message to fans who have loved Akshara will be
I would rather take all the messages from the fans of Akshara, on what they think my performance and contribution is to this show.
