TOI: Duty not to let viewers down=Karan

'Punarvivaah — Ek Nayi Umeed', is chapter two of 'Punarvivaah', which will explore the relationships of ex-lovers and a husband and wife. Actors Rubina Dilaik, Karan V Grover andSrishty Rode will take the story forward from where Gurmeet Choudhary and Kratika Sengarleft. Chapter 2 begins tonight and will air Monday to Friday at 10.30 pm on Zee TV.

Through this show, I intend to break the image of Radhika, says Rubina Dilaik, who plays actress Divya, in the show.

Tell us a bit about the show and your character?

It's a mature love story of Raj, Divya and Sarita. Raj and Divya are in love. Divya is like any other small town girl. But she has to sacrifice her love for her family. She leaves for Mumbai to become an actress and bring up her two siblings. Now that they are settled in life and she has earned name and fame, she goes back to Bhopal to revisit her past. Prepared for the worst, she wants to meet Raj. She finds out that he is a married man now but can't blame him since it was her decision to leave him. Pressured by family, Divya agrees to marry a guy who is not awestruck by my fame like others.

What prompted you to take up the role?

The producer told me that I resemble Divya — her body language, looks and mannerisms. I decided to take up the role even before I had heard the script. I intend to break the image of Radhika through this show. It has faded out, but it needs to be erased totally. The track has been woven intelligently, where I am shown as an actress, who plays the role of Radhika in Chhoti Bahu, and how she returns to her hometown 10 years later.

It's rare to see an actor get repeated as the lead by a channel?

I played the protagonist in Chhoti Bahu, which has had two successful seasons. I am glad they reconsidered me to play the lead in Chapter 2 of Punarvivaah.

Are you nervous since the viewers will have a lot of expectations from you?

I am not nervous but there is an excitement coupled with enthusiasm to be a part of it. There have been seasons for many daily soaps — something that was introduced by Chhoti Bahu. WithPunarvivaah, we are introducing chapters to Indian television. It's different from seasons because it has a new cast and a new storyline though the essence of the title remains. Seasons have same faces with a new storyline.

Personally, I can't marry a stranger, says Karan V Grover, who plays Raj, a husband indifferent to his wife

Raj — a name, a brand to live up to. Honestly, I don't believe in image building or brand making. If you are not successful, one doesn't think twice before writing you off. I don't know how to make a brand and even if I make one, I will have to provide the fuel for it to sustain. My fuel is my good work, so I better focus on my work.

Tell us something about the character

Raj is flamboyant, full of life and loves Divya. Once Divya leaves, he becomes what the world wants him to be. His family gets him married to Sarita, who he could never love. He has become indifferent towards her. Raj hasn't moved on in life in these 10 years and has become a man without emotions.

Do we have such people in real life, especially in today's time when love has changed its definition?

I have seen cases where the person continues to live like a man minus-emotions after their loved ones abandon them, because they were their justification for existence.

Do you think you can marry someone you don't love in real life?

I can fall in love with someone post marriage but I would prefer to understand the person and live with her for some time before I decide to tie the knot. I have to be sure I can live with the person. Personally, I can't marry a stranger.

You have been repeated by the channel to play the male lead, which is rare

I feel humbled and more responsible for the fact that they even considered me for the part. I am expected to entertain the audience, which I shall.

Have you been following the show?

Gurmeet (Choudhary) is a friend and so I did watch the initial few episodes of the show.

Do you feel having established faces give the show an added advantage?

It certainly does, but it is the content that attracts eyeballs in the long run. The show is established and the viewers are already used to watching it.

A lot is riding on your shoulders since you are popular. Is there a sense of pressure?

In fact, I like it as it keeps me on my toes and pushes me to give it my best. My duty is to not let the viewers down.

Do you think you will ever be in a situation like Raj?

No, I am not like Raj, who sulks over unrequited love. I am emotionally detached as a person and I'm only concerned about my family and close friends. My mind is always over my heart.

I always preferred to play Sarita over Divya, says actress Srishty Rode, who plays a wife deprived of her husband's love

Tell us a bit about your character?

Sarita is simple, sober and sweet. But she is frustrated in life because of the lack of attention from her husband. However, she is not helpless. She's been deprived of her husband's love for 10 years. Though she tried to seek his attention initially, Sarita has now become tough. She throws back what she gets. She is not someone who will take things lying down. She is upfront and straight on the face.

Would you have liked to play Divya instead because it's glamorous?

No. I have always preferred Sarita because of the shades her character has. She is not a bechari bahu. The most difficult part of playing Sarita is that I'm required to wear saris, something that I haven't tried so far.

This is your biggest role so far...

Yes, this is like a breakthrough. I was playing the grown-up Shobha in Shobha Somnath Ki, but the show wrapped up soon after. With this show, which has become a brand, I get to play a strong character.

With the first chapter being quite popular, do you feel burdened?

Not at all. I will give my best to the show. There are a lot of hopes and expectations from it and this being my biggest break so far, I will try my best to live up to them. I hope they accept my character.

Do you relate to the character?

I am the opposite of Sarita in real life. I am bubbly and chirpy unlike Sarita, who is quiet and frustrated. Had I been in her place, I would have walked out of the marriage if my husband didn't love me.

Ajay Bhalwankar, ZEEL, Content Head (Hindi GECs) says, "While the story of Punarvivaah with its original characters of Yash and Aarti has run its full course and comes to an end shortly, we feel that the subject of remarriage offers an extremely interesting canvas for story-telling and there are so many layers of a man-woman relationship that can be explored around this subject. Hence the new story, the new chapter."

Lesser-known facts

Divya is shown acting was originally named Mishri Bahu. However, after the channel finalisedRubina Dilaik to play Divya, the name was changed to Chhoti Bahu— a show Rubina was part of in reality. Srishty's father is a veteran DOP and worked on Shobha Somnath Ki, in which the actress was roped in to play the grown-up Shobha. Srishty lost three kilos in a week's time to fit the role.

How Chapter 2 will unfold

The show revolves Divya, Raj and Sarita. Raj directs plays and Divya joins his group; the two fall in love — which is better understood than spoken. However, her parents' death in an accident, responsibilities of her two siblings comes on Divya and she leaves for Mumbai to become an actress. Meanwhile, Raj gets married to Sarita as per his parents' wish. While Divya still yearns for Raj, he too hasn't moved on and fails to love his wife. After tasting success and settling her siblings, Divya decides to return to Bhopal and to her lover Raj. It is a story of unrequited love involving two lovers (Divya and Raj) and a wife (Sarita) who is deprived of her husband's love. "This is Punarvivaah of an arranged marriage," says producer Sumeet Mittal.