MUMBAI: Pooja Banerjee is one of the most loved actresses in Telly town. Each character that she has played so far is much loved and she keeps the audience hooked with her charming smile and style statements which make her a visual delight.

In conversation with Pooja, we got her talking about her show and the character enacted by her.

Take a look:

Tell us about your journey in the industry so far...

To be honest, I am really grateful to God that I have had a fantastic journey till date. From MTV Roadies to Ek Doosre Se Karte Hain Pyaar Hum to Kasautii Zindagii Kay to Kumkum Bhagya, I've enjoyed the ride till now, but there's more to come. I've seen ups and downs like everyone, however, I must say that I am in a good space, and I am truly blessed to have got a chance to be a part of such wonderful shows. I can't wait to present more strong and wonderful tales in the future!

How do you feel being a part of one of the most popular shows on Indian television - Kumkum Bhagya?

I feel lucky to be part of such an iconic show and working under the banners of Zee TV and Balaji Telefilms as well as shooting with stars like Sriti Jha and Shabir Ahluwalia. We all know how Kumkum Bhagya has been ruling the audience's hearts for over seven years now, in fact, I used to follow the show too. So, when I got a chance to be a part of the show last year, especially with a strong character like Rhea, I knew I had to take it up. Since I've been a part of the show, I've got a lot of love and appreciation from fans and followers of the show, and I want to keep entertaining them for years to come.

What made you say yes for this Kumkum Bhagya?

Being honest, it was the character of Rhea that really made me say yes. While I knew Kumkum Bhagya was a mega show that was doing well, I always look at the character I am offered and then decide if I want to be a part of it or no. I don't take up any show just for the sake of it and when I heard about Rhea's character, I was instantly hooked. Roles with grey shades have always intrigued me and unlike positive shades, there is a certain amount of meticulous planning that goes in depicting the best side of that character. I decided two years back that I wanted to do grey shade characters and I haven’t looked back ever since. I feel there is so much to play around with such characters, and you also get to learn a lot as an actor. The character of Rhea had its share of challenges, and I am enjoying playing such a role

How did you prepare for the role?

I really didn't need to prepare much for this particular part. The writers had really written the part well and the script is always very crisp and detailed, so I just have to get into the character and perform. My creative head as well as the director are fantastic. They always explain to me what they want from a particular scene and using my experience as an actress, I just perform the sequence to the best of my ability. In fact, the best part was that Naina had been playing Rhea for so long and I used to follow the show, so I had a reference in mind. Obviously, I gave the character my own spin, but it was fun, and people have showered me with a lot of love and appreciation since I joined the show, which makes me very happy.

How do you relate to your character in real life?

To be honest, I am very different from Rhea. While I do relate to her style statement, but apart from that, we have nothing in common. We are poles apart and that's the best part of my job. I get to play different characters and experience different things onscreen and be a different person in real life. It's fun and I truly enjoy it.

Who is your best friend from the industry?

I have many close friends in the industry, including my Kumkum Bhagya co-stars, but if you tell me to pick a few best friends that I absolutely love to the core, then it has to be Sahil Anand, Erica Fernandes, Parth Samthaan, Shubhaavi Choksey, Mallika Nayak, Samridh Bawa, they are my closest pals!

Well said Pooja! (Also Read: When Pooja Banerjee took inspiration from Kalki’s character from Gully Boy for Kumkum Bhagya)