Sakshi Tanwar has always been my role model: Fenil Umrigar

Sony Entertainment Television’s popular show Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (Balaji Telefilms) has taken a seven year leap. Naturally Ram (Ram Kapoor) and Priya (Sakshi Tanwar)’s loving daughter Pihu has grown up. Now, the girl in her teens is being played by the beautiful Fenil Umrigar. In a talk with Tellychakkar.com, Fenil gives us an insight of how the story will take shape revolving around the younger generation and also of her experience in the show. How does it feel to play Pihu? I am elated. Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (BALH) is a flagship show of SET and I am super excited to be a part of it. Also with this leap, since Pihu has turned the central character, I have a lot to do. Like Pihu, I am a very honest and hardworking person. Let’s hope if this stint in BALH turns out to be a success. How did you bag the role? It so happened that two months ago I got a call from the production house saying that they had seen footage of BFF and wanted me to audition for Pihu. Since I couldn’t go to Mumbai then, I sent her a disc of my audition. Then I was not very hopeful that I would be selected for the role. But when the person on the other side congratulated me, I was on cloud nine. How many episodes have you shot till now? We have just begun. As a matter of fact, I did my first shot, the day I came to sign my contract. Since I had to act opposite Ram Kapoor, I was super nervous; had even told him so. But he is a sweetheart. He assured me that I would do well. He helped me rehearse my lines with him and also made me feel at ease. Though I had to give quite a few retakes, but he was very accommodating. He is a perfectionist. And Sakshi Tanwar? She’s always been my role model. She is one of the finest actors in Telly land. I wish I had 10 per cent of the talent that she has. I have shot a couple of scenes with her wherein she is in a coma and I am talking to her. So we haven’t really communicated that much. But she keeps smiling at me whenever she sees me. That’s a very warm gesture that enthuses me. So, is Pihu going to have shades of grey? She is like any other college girl; Sexy, smart and shrewd. She will continue to be the apple of her parents’ eyes. Like all children, she can do anything for her family. But like every teenager, she will also have a slightly grey shade; she is both naughty and an arrogant prankster. My character is one that you all will relate to. Where is BALH headed? We have only been given the script for the initial episodes post the leap. The creative team will decide the rest of the content. As of now, the focus is on Ram Kapoor who will have to take care of his three girls. There will be a lot of parenting issues and challenges on display and how he tackles those issues forms the crux of the story. What about the new twists and turns? The show is going to be as exciting as earlier if not more. There are going to be many twists. In the coming few weeks, the show will unravel what actually happened with Pihu on that prom night. That is going to be shocking and unnerving. We are hoping to garner maximum ratings post this revelation. But wasn’t the USP of the show the romance between a middle-aged couple? Yes, but the show must go on and it can’t be focused on one thing all through. To drive a soap the producers need to look for more angles. Like in Kyunkii... the show was only about Tulsi and Mihir to begin with but along with time, that changed; in fact we saw more issues come to the fore. The same is going to be the case with BALH. The focus will now be on the children of Ram and Priya and what goes on in their lives. Way forward? With Priya in coma, and speculations rife that she may leave the show, it’s over to Ram and his daughters. In the coming episodes, he will be shown parenting his children as a friend, father and guide. The show will also unveil what really happened with Pihu on prom night.