When I met Ekta Ma’am for like for the meeting she offered me something else okay and this
was me who said that ma’am can we do Pavitra Rishta please?
Sushant was like Manav for me I mean you know when I used to read the script also, that
time Shaheer was on board. When I used to read the script
there used to line of Archana and then Manav, I could hear Sushant
I always feel that social media is a such a medium that can
spread positivity because the time is such right now that stop bashing people yeah
who is going through what and what is going on in their lives,
just because people are smiling doesn’t mean it’s all okay in their lives
People also bashed, boycotted Pavitra Rishta but there I definitely feel whoever is doing this
are genuine fans of Sushant like you know I sympathise with
these people because they've been fighting for Sushant so strongly
I mean Rhea I don't know about Rhea, the reason I
immediately posted that I am not part of any Big Boss this time
Hi Ankita welcome to Pinkvilla
Thank you so much for having me
Thank you so much for doing this with us. We've been trying to do this for a very long time
Finally, it’s happening
Yes, finally I can see you
Yes
But Ankita, Pavitra Rishta 2 is round the corner it's releasing soon 15th September if I’m not
mistaken and it's a very special show for you Ankita because you started out with this show
and now it's coming with season two when they offered you this new season do you
remember the moment and do you remember what was going
on in your head when it was first offered to you?
When I met Ekta Ma’am for like for the meeting she offered me something else okay and this
was me who said that ma’am can we do Pavitra Rishta please? And she was like you want to
do Pavitra Rishta she was actually surprisedly shocked that I wanted to do Pavitra Rishta
because usually you know you like you have done films and everything you want to do so she
wasn't that, I said ma’am yes please can we just make Pavitra Rishta she was like there
immediately she called everyone she said let’s pick up a meeting let's do Pavitra Rishta
Wow
And you know because the love for show you know like she
definitely loves Pavitra Rishta and I thought like I am in love with Pavitra Rishta forever
So yeah, she did not take much of time immediately she said
yes, we are doing it and we are here promoting Pavitra Rishta
Sure, but why the second season for you were you able
to detach with Archana when you finished the first season?
Yeah, I wasn't really I see I’m a very much kind of a girl I don't let go of
things easy I don't I am very much in that with the memories with everything I am stuck
in the past I’m like that you know I can't let go of things, people in my life I’m very
possessive about my things and I am like that okay so for me Pavitra Rishta is my show for
me, it's my baby I have given birth to something very beautiful and you know when Pavitra was
wrapping up I was like why are you doing this? I can come daily on the sets don't do that you
know I am like because I’m not somebody who will run after doing a lot, I’m a very content
girl and I was really happy doing Pavitra Rishta for five and a half years you know but then it
got over and then I could not get out of Archana and any way the most important, the fans
don’t let you get out your character. I think people loved Archana so much that they every
day, now there are lot more Archana-Manav scenes now but earlier it was they will not let you just move on you know
they will not let you because they love the characters so much, they love the show so much
that there are very genuine fans of Pavitra Rishta you know that who really loved Pavitra
Rishta with their heart and soul so I think you know and I am someone who is not able to get
out of it and this was something in my head from last one and one and a half year like two
years back I was just talking to Vicky and he was like you should do Pavitra Rishta because I
think this is my show you know and I really wanted to talk about this and when it offered me
something I was like you know please let’s do this because 5-6 years later if someone else
does this show Avinash I’d be very offended I’ll be very jealous this is my baby you know
and I’m sure Ekta ma’am would have thought of this also but then Archana is me it’s me you
know and I can't let anybody do that so I was the one who proposed this to Ekta ma’am.
Sure, you know Shilpa Shetty told me something very similar recently she said when we were talking
about Chura Ke Dil Mera getting remade she was like it's
my baby and I would have been if somebody else would have done that
Same here because when you're possessive about your things you know I remember when
Archana-Manav’s house was breaking down where Kumkum Bhagya’s set was going to be
made I have cried so much that it is my house. I have fought with these people literally
Some somewhere it's bad also that you can't detach yourself from things at least you should
detach but I’m not like that you know I’m very, very possessive about my show, my actors,
my friends, my family, my boyfriend, I am like that and Pavitra Rishta was my baby
So, I could not let it go so that's the reason I am here and I’m doing Pavitra Rishta I’m more
than happy in my life that I’m doing that I should at least you know I have not seen any lead
artists playing a lead character again after 20 years and I am grateful for that that I got this
opportunity and I can perform like Archana again become yeah
What’s the difference between earlier Archana and today’s Archana?
I think there is no difference in Archana. I mean Archana can’t be different. Archana is
Archana you know. Even in discussion we thought that Archana could be a little modern this
time I said no, she can't be. She has to have that simplicity in her character because people are
connected to that Archana only, they see me like that I can't, if I do anything different, they
will be like Ankita Lokhande. I might won’t do be able to do it. Archana is like any other girl
And I always try to do a character that connects with people this is what I feel so I never I
was like no let Archana be Archana don't change her for you know her looks, her hair, that
should be the simplicity of Archana and there is one thing which has changed that our
confidence level as a character I’m talking about she's working this time you know she's
doing a job and that is something very interesting because everyone grows and this time she's
a little different and she's more what do you call vocal about showing love for Manav she is
she is showing that to Manav that I really love you know that that's the difference and you
know because the before Archana was little, both Archana and Manav I would say was very
compromising in every situation. I used to think that then too that I can’t let anyone have my
husband like that. This time Archana will definitely there will be situations but she will
definitely talk about it she’ll tell about, she'll speak about her
feelings which is which was not there in the first season
You know casting for Manav’s character would have been very difficult especially after
Sushant did it so well in season one when you heard that
Shaheer would play you know Manav in season two what was your first reaction?
See when I got the what this news that he might play and there were other actors
I was like no God please, please, please let him be Shaheer only because I did not know
Shaheer that well but there was some real, pure feeling, there was this something in his eyes
that was in Manav. I think Manav is such a person that is very clean, very pure. You can see
it in his eyes. Archana and Manav are such, they won’t say much but their eyes speak and
you know Shaheer is a star. But I just felt that when he will become Manav, he will become
Manav for sure. I just felt it and I just wanted him because if there is even one wrong person
in the team then its all ruined. If someone else walked in who would show off on his stardom,
won’t have dedication I would be disconnected. I wouldn’t be able to do it. Because it’s a
give and take thing. Acting is just not only you doing it, you need to get that also from the
other person. So, for me, when Shaheer was there I knew he would be the best for it. I just
knew that. So, when he did the first scene and I saw him I was very, very, very happy and I
told him also I can see Manav in you. He was like you said it means it’s there. I know Manav
because I think I have seen him the most. I think Archana and Manav have made each other
and I saw it in him and he was. I knew if I couldn’t see Manav in
him I wouldn’t be able to perform.
And you know whenever we think about Pavitra Rishta we always get two first names one is
you and one is Sushant did you miss him while shooting first, the season two?
I think you know more than missing I think you know Sushant was like Manav for me
because that I mean you know when I used to read the script also, that time Shaheer was on
board. When I used to read the script there used to line of Archana and then Manav, I could
hear Sushant. Like you know how will Sushant say it. For me, Manav is Sushant. If you send
somebody a message, if you know the person you will hear the voice you will know how the
person says it. So, for me when I used to read the script for me, Manav was Sushant.
You know that way of talking and the way of, I know that Manav. So yes, I used to get that feeling
but when you are acting you don’t understand, I didn’t miss Sushant much. Because when I
was acting for me, Manav was Shaheer. But when I listen to the title track usually so I get
that feeling of Sushant as Manav because that was the first time when we met and you know
we shot the promo and the song and this was the first meeting I remember like he said hi I’m
Sushant Singh Rajput and I said you know that was the feeling that I had and I still get
goosebumps listening to the song. I feel then that Manav was different. But otherwise, when
Shaheer and me used to perform you see Manav. He doesn’t see Ankita in me, he sees
Archana. The same way I see Manav in Shaheer. Whether its Sushant or Shaheer I was
playing character. You know I don't know when I watch the episodes i don't know what will I
feel but when you are on the sets you don’t realise that much. Its very fast you know but
yeah, the title song is something which always gives me that goosebumps
You know after his death a lot of trolling came your way and I know how beautiful your
relationship you guys have shared but is it hard to get such kind of feedback?
See I’ll tell you one thing I don't know what I have done wrong that people have been trolling
me. I really have no idea and it's okay I mean I definitely feel people have their voice now to
people as my account is open so people can write anything whatever they want but
sometimes you don’t know the journey of the person about whom you are talking and when
the person is gone you say all nice things about him and say bad things about who are left
behind. It can be you saying things can harm us. And then when go, you will say nice things
about us. Then what’s the point? I always feel that social media is a such a medium that can
spread positivity because the time is such right now that stop bashing people yeah you don’t
know who is going through what and what is going on in their lives, just because people are
smiling doesn’t mean it’s all okay in their lives. So, we don’t interfere in anyone’s lives and
bash them so you don’t like me it’s okay I always say that it’s okay. Don't comment on my
Instagram I’m not going to block you that is for sure you that’s your thought what you write
on my social media sure and that's your way of seeing things and you know for Pavitra Rishta
also people bashed boycott Pavitra Rishta but there I definitely feel whoever is doing this are
genuine fans of Sushant like you know I sympathise with these people because they've been
fighting for Sushant so strongly. I don't feel bad when they say this should flop because its
their thought process because they love Sushant so much but they have to understand one
thing I’m just trying to keep him alive in any way you know in any way like if I put videos
also of his I’m not gaining any publicity here I’m trying to give you what Sushant was you
understand I was just trying, if I put a video up of his I am just trying to tell you what he was
because he isn’t any more. Whatever I have left of him, I
am trying to show you and maybe you will be happy
You know I am just trying to keep him alive in a way but okay people have their own things to say
Yeah, I had tears in my eyes when I had seen that video of Na Rahe now
Understand my situation, let it be.
You know you just spoke about boycott Pavitra Rishta 2 which was trending on Twitter then
people write about you and Rhea Chakraborty all the time they recently said you and her are
going in Big Boss also how do you react to this especially when they constantly thought you
It's okay talk about me I really have no problem but I will say when I feel like
I don't think so in everything because I feel I’m very
controversial all the time. Even if I try doing nice people call me out
So, it's okay that's me you know because I’m very upfront on
what I feel and what I say but yeah
I mean Rhea I don't know about Rhea, the reason I immediately posted that I am not part of
any Big Boss this time so please forgive me but okay they like
using my name so do it. I don’t have any issues.
Paparazzi asked you as well and you said it then too that you aren’t a part of Big Boss
I cleared it to them, even after that and you know what I am really I am not the kind of person
who will give to each and every thing. I have never been that way. I remember there were so
many stories about when the break up happened I used to see my picture, how am I looking
and that’s it. I never used to read also because this is just waste of time for me because I can
say all the nice things but they will write what they want to. I don't care what you write for
me. I know what people feel about me and that’s important to me and my genuine fans who
know me and I tell you one thing when you’re right now you don't have to go to people and
tell them I’m right they just know it they just know it and some people are bashing me
because I’m right you know some people are bashing me
because I’m just good you can't be good so that's okay that's their life.
Sure, sure lastly, we are in the Ganpati festival and I know how
special this time is for you how are you celebrating it this year?
See Ganpati bappa is somebody who's always, always here from my childhood I’ve seen
Ganpati coming home for 11 days. I am a very private person. I don’t invite people. If I am
feeling it then okay but I have very exclusive people because in Indore I’m from Indore so
there, there is Ganpati in everybody’s house. So, you don’t have this socialising thing I have
seen this in Mumbai only it's kind of a socialising activity I feel that just socialise go to
people and go like for Ganpati darshan. At our place, Ganpati is at everybody’s house so I
don’t know this culture about inviting people. Ganpati bappa is at everyone’s place and all
are the same so I think you just go to socialise, to meet people. And people who don’t have
Ganpati at their place they go for darshan. I never saw this in Indore. Everyone has 11 days
Ganpati so this doesn’t happen here. But we have in between those 11 days of Ganpati for
three days there is this thing Mahalaxmi who are sisters of Ganpati bappa who come home to
visit her brother, Ganpati with their kids. So that’s something very interesting which happens
at my place so for that woman come. There I invite lots of ladies, my friends, guy friends so
that’s it. I always go for eco-friendly Ganpati and I do the
visarjan in my house it self and use that water for plants.
You know it's Ganpati season like I said we wish everything is
fine everybody is happy and I wish you all the best Pavitra Rishta.
Thank you so much Avinash.