Exclusive: Nishi Saxena from Anupamaa: Going to the sets is now part of my routine; I don’t need any inspiration since the folks there are my family
TV is under fierce competition from films and over-the-top streaming services, but Nishi Saxena, who plays Dimpy in Rajan Shahi and Deepa Shahi’s Anupamaa, believes that TV is still able to draw viewers. She claims that while people can connect to what they see on TV more, there is no change in the number of viewers. During a special interview, the actress referred to the Anupamaa sets as her second home.
Films and OTT are up against fierce competition. However, relatability is the primary reason why TV is still popular. People connect with these TV daily soap operas, but they are unable to do the same with films or over-the-top content. Additionally, since we spend so much time with the audience, they begin to feel and get connected to these characters. For this reason, in my opinion, TV will never be replaced by OTT or cinema’, she said.
“Although many younger people aren’t watching TV, the older generation is still fixated on it, just like they were ten years ago.” Of course, the bulk of the public used to watch TV since, ten years ago, there was just TV and no social media, internet, YouTube, etc. We are using other platforms now that we have these things, but I don’t believe TV will go completely; programmes like Anupamaa will be there for a very long time, the speaker said.
Regarding her programme, Anupamaa, she said that one of the reasons viewers are captivated by it is the variety of subjects it covers. “We always have something new to show,” she said, explaining why it remains at the top even after three years. So, every episode has something fresh to give that people can connect to, ranging from love and relationships to family dynamics, social challenges, and personal development. I believe that the creators and story writers are doing a fantastic job of identifying subjects and problems that the general public can identify with.
She continued by referring to the Anupamaa sets as her second home and admitting that she wishes she could visit them every day. “My family is here on the set. To go to the sets, I don’t require inspiration or a source of inspiration. Now that it’s part of my habit, I like going there. I’m doing what I wanted to do; the people are so friendly, and the feelings are wonderful. I am living my dream, and the opportunity to positively influence other people’s lives via my acting motivates me to practice acting every day’, the actress said.
Nishi also expressed his gratitude to Deepa Shahi and Rajan Shahi, the mother-son production team, for their unwavering assistance. “Working with them is a dream come true,” she said. Although I’ve never said it, I used to watch Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, and Anupamaa debuted just after I came to Mumbai. The main reason I decided to relocate to the city and pursue an acting profession was Rajan Sir’s programmes. Furthermore, it has been a pleasure dealing with him. It’s incredible how committed he is to presenting stories, noticing the little details, and bringing the audience so close to the performance. He is not just making TV programmes; he is also making feelings.
“I am really thankful and feel incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to work on this programme, and I applaud his dedication to keeping a family-like atmosphere on the sets. We are all like one huge family, the ADs and the characters alike. My second family is there. I believe it is all due to Rajan Sir, she said. He makes sure that everyone on the team feels encouraged and supported, and they all collaborate since that is how the team effort is shown so well on screen.
Nishi concluded by thanking her supporters and loved ones. She concluded, saying, “I just want to tell them to keep watching the show and keep loving Dimpy as they have loved her till now. This is all because of them that my dream is getting fulfilled.”
