‘IT WAS A RISK BUT IT WORKED...’
Says actor Surbhi Chandna, about starring in a medical drama that will wrap up next month; adds in the current TV scenario, it was a big deal to try a different subject
She was first noticed for her performance in Qubool Hai but it was the lead role in the hit TV romantic drama Ishqbaaaz that made actor Surbhi Chandna popular among the audience. She returned to the tube with a medical drama last year, as she “wanted to try something different” from her previous shows.
“I enjoyed being a part of my ongoing TV show as most actors wouldn’t want to rock the boat and take up a role which was unlike the trending shows on the small screen. We have many formulaic shows about weddings, relationships, family drama etc., so taking on a show where I played a doctor was challenging. I always knew the show was about a risky subject and not everyone was going to accept it. It was a risk that I took and it worked. I didn’t want to play the usual bubbly girl in a salwar kameez or sari. I wanted to be different and a professional in a show, and I got both things in this show,” she says.
Though the series will be ending in seven months, Surbhi admits that she isn’t disheartened as she knows there are numerous options for the audiences to choose content from, including web shows. She says, “While it is tough to break away from the usual fare on TV, we tried something new and made a show in an urban setting. I don’t know when the content on TV will change but, I guess, it will take time. In the current TV scenario, it is a big deal for the creative team, the producers and the actors to make such a show and keep it going for so many months. Most shows are pulled off within three months. The only regret I have is not reaching the one year mark which would have been fantastic.”
She says the vibe on the sets is what kept everyone positive and motivated. Talking about her experiences of working with seniors such as Mohnish Bahl, Rohit Roy, Gurdeep Kohli, Sayantani Ghosh, and Gaurav Chopra, she says, “It has been a great journey and I have learnt a lot after watching all these superb actors work and the way they approach scenes. We faced many challenges including the rumours of the show going off air cropping up often. Even though our show aired at time slot which wasn’t strong, our ratings were decent, and I am glad that I got to be a part of this serial.”