Exclusive - Nidhi Shetty on replacing Bhavna Ajwani in Anupamaa: There is definitely pressure when you enter a show that is already so loved, but I focus on doing my work honestly

Actress Nidhi Shetty recently entered Rajan Shahi’s Anupamaa as Prerna. Sharing about her career so far Nidhi says, “I’ve been in the industry for about 9 years now. I started with several ad commercials and digital content. After I finished college, I decided to pursue acting full-fledged. Honestly, I feel like I always wanted to be an actress. My parents say that even when I was very little, I loved music and dancing, and I would perform whenever a song played. As I grew up and started understanding the industry more, whenever I watched films or shows I would always think, “I want to do this.”

Nidhi shares that her whole family watches Anupamaa. ”It was actually my mother’s dream that I work with Rajan Shahi's Production house someday. She has watched almost all the shows he has made and is a huge fan. Interestingly, before this role, I had auditioned for a few other characters in the show but things didn’t work out at that time. So when this opportunity came, it felt like everything finally aligned. I truly believe some things are meant to happen at the right time.”

Talking about the pressure of replacing someone in Prerna’s role she says, “There is definitely pressure when you enter a show that is already so loved by the audience. But personally, I try not to focus on the pressure. I prefer to focus on doing my work honestly and giving my best in every scene. Pressure will always exist in this industry, so the best way to deal with it is to stay focused, keep learning, and trust the process. Working with Rajan Shahi is honestly like a dream come true. I’ve met him a couple of times and he is such a gem of a person. He has a very calm and positive aura, and he treats everyone on set with so much warmth and respect. You can see why his shows connect so deeply with audiences; he understands emotions and storytelling so beautifully. Being part of a show created by him is truly special for me.”

Nidhi also shares her equation with Ishika Shahi with whom she has worked earlier. She adds, “Ishika Shahi is not just an amazing director but also a friend. She is extremely focused and dedicated to her work and has a very clear vision of what she wants from a scene. Working with her is such a great experience because she knows exactly how to guide actors. I always tell her that the next series she directs, she has to cast me again, because I genuinely love her work and would love to collaborate with her more.”

At the end Nidhi adds, “Right now, My only focus is to do justice to the character of Prerna and give my best to every scene. I just hope that the audience connects with her and accepts me in this role. If people love Prerna, that would be the biggest reward for me.”