Aisha Ahmed on saying yes to ‘Single Papa’ instinctively: ‘When I heard Kunal Kemmu was on board, it was like the cherry on top’

'Single Papa', created by real-life couple Ishita Moitra and Neeraj Udhwani, has been earning praise for its sensitive storytelling. The series stars Kunal Kemmu in the lead, alongside Manoj Pahwa, Ayesha Raza, Prajakta Koli, Neha Dhupia, and Aisha Ahmed. Amid the strong ensemble cast, Aisha Ahmed, who plays Dr Shreya, recently opened up about why she agreed to the show instantly.In an interview with India Today, Aisha admitted that her decision came from instinct rather than a detailed script reading. She said the people associated with the project mattered more to her than the size of the role. “If I’m being completely honest, when this opportunity came to me, there was no way I would say no, whether it was a small part or a big part,” she said. Her admiration for the team sealed the deal. “I’ve genuinely been a fan of everyone’s work, be it Shashank, Neeraj, Hitesh, the writers. And when I heard Kunal Kemmu was on board, it was like the cherry on top. I’ve admired his work not just as an actor but also as a director.”When she eventually read the script, Aisha realised that Dr Shreya was written with depth and dignity. “When I started reading, I realised it’s a brief part, it doesn’t have a lot of screen time, but she has her own identity. She’s not a crutch to move the story forward.”Working with Kunal Kemmu altered Aisha’s approach to acting. She admitted that her initial assumptions about his working style were quite different. “I thought he would be extremely spontaneous and I wouldn’t know how to respond. But what I learnt is that Kunal is an incredibly prepared actor. He doesn’t just show up and wing it.”She explained how observing him reshaped her understanding of spontaneity. “I learnt that being spontaneous doesn’t mean not being prepared.” Elaborating further, she said, “I used to think if you rehearse too much, it becomes planned and pale. But from him, I learnt that you can only be spontaneous when you’re fully prepared and in control of what the scene demands.”Aisha also credited showrunner Shashank Khaitan for maintaining the show’s cohesive tone. “The more I say about him, the less it will be,” she said. She praised his ability to balance multiple directors while keeping the vision intact. “He made sure everyone had their space, but everything stayed on the same line.”For Aisha, the experience felt seamless. “It genuinely felt like one director’s vision every day.”'Single Papa' is now streaming on Netflix.