You are again being associated with Sanjivani after 14 years. How is the feeling?
I am feeling on top of the world, after all it was my debut show. For me, it is like life taking a full circle and me restarting a new journey. I am of course very very excited. I had got to know about it long back that the makers are rebooting with a second season. So, I was waiting patiently. Initially, I was thinking if it will or it will not be made. But now when we are heading towards shoot it is unbelievable for me.
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Playing the same character again in reboot is quite a rarity. Your thoughts?
I don't think this has happened with anybody that uska debut phir se aaye and she gets to be a part of it. So I think I am very lucky and extremely grateful to the makers, Star Plus and definitely the Almighty to give me this opportunity in my career.
How did you manage to keep calm for so long after knowing that you are doing Sanjivani again?
See I knew that it’s being remade and as we say sabar ka phal meetha hota hai. So I had no choice than waiting for it patiently which I did and see it’s happening.
What was your first reaction when Siddharth asked you about it?
It was a yes, the very moment. I remember Siddharth called me and said ‘get yourself free as I am planning to get Sanjivani back and without you it will not be made’. And I immediately said, ‘I will do it, we have to work together. Yes, I am free so let's start it again’. That call coming from my makers proves how strong we all bonded even after Sanjivani ended like 14 years back. I am still there in their mind and they want to repeat me which is as good as achieving something in life.
What special place does Sanjivani hold in your heart?
I have got everything from Sanjivani. Even my husband Arjun, I have got him from the show. Not only that, my house, my family, my career everything belongs to that show. You can understand how special this show is for me in my reel and real life.
From the old star cast, Mohnish Bahl is also a part of the show. How excited you are to work with him?
You know what! I haven't met Mohnish since Sanjivani got over in 2005. But even then, I used to respect him to the core. Again we will be working together and the only difference is in the past, I was a newcomer and now I have learned the acting graph. I feel fortunate that once again I am getting to work with a man who is so experienced and wonderful at his work.
Can you recall your first scene with him?
My first scene with him showed my character of Dr Juhu being all messed up. The way my character was, she enters Dr. Shashank's clinic and he was supposed to give her a good shouting because she is late for her first day of Sanjivani Hospital for internship. And trust me the feeling and reactions for me were like reality. Because that was the first scene of my life and before that I had never acted. I was asked to enter his room and say dialogues in front of such a big actor. So all the emotions which viewers must have seen were real I would say.
Will we see you as Dr. Juhi again?
You know what is the best part of me rejoining the show? I did Sanjivani at the beginning of my career when I was not married and now I am a proud parent. So my sons always used to ask me this question that ‘why do people call you Dr. Juhi?’ And now they will come to know who is Dr. Juhi and how she is associated with me. I can't explain this to anybody and this is really nice.
Are you guys nervous as to whether this show be able to match up the graph which the original Sanjivani created earlier?
Fingers crossed, it does that. Honestly, even our makers know that it is like a challenge and they are putting their best into it. I have done the reading and believe me, they have done very good writing. I have read the episodes and they sound amazing. Execution and production channel will take care. And as far as our part as an actor is concerned we have to show what power it has. Plus, all the actors who are connected to Sanjivani also know how popular and hit the show was. So everyone knows that we are making such a big show again. I am sure all are mentally prepared to face the challenge.
Surbhi Chandna will be at the place where you were. What do you have to say?
I met her she is a very sweet girl. But when I did Sanjivani, I was completely new to this world. And Surbhi is a very fine actor plus she is a very popular girl. So there has to be someone of her calibre to take up the show. So, I am happy she is doing it.
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