Adrija Roy opens up on replacing Alisha Parveen as Raahi in Anupamaa: 'Ye mere life ka..'

Adrija Roy, who has been roped in to replace Alisha Parveen to essay the new female lead in Rupali Ganguly's Anupamaa has started shooting for the show soon after the latter was replaced. India Forums got in touch with the actress to speak about her stint on the show and how did everything unfold for her.

Congratulations for your stint in Anupamaa. How are you feeling about the same?

I am extremely happy, extremely elated about my stint on the show. It feels amazing. And not just Anupamaa, but Anupamaa with DKP feels surreal. Every actor dreams of working with DKP and mine just came true. I feel lucky and blessed.

How were you offered the show? What exactly happened?

I was in Kolkatta when I got a call for the show and I was asked to come to Mumbai. Baaki toh sir (Rajan Shahi) hi batayenge. (giggles)

Were you aware about the fact that you are replacing Alisha Parveen on the show?

Mujhe ye baad mein pata chala tha. I mean koi kar rahi thi that I definitely knew, but I learnt about this replacement later.

Are you aware of Alisha's work on the show? Did you happen to see it?

Yes, I have seen her work in the telecast.

When you enter an ongoing show, it gets difficult for the audience to accept a new chemistry. However, in your case, the positive aspect is that it has been only a month and more with the new characters. Do you think it will be easier for the audience to accept you since the character is relatively new?

I hope so. What I believe is, whichever character, not just the lead or the chemistry, when someone plays a character, the audience gets emotionally attached to it and associate a said person with the same. When suddenly that character is replaced, the viewers take time to accept it. However, when someone comes in and essays the character well, then the audience needs relatively lesser time to accept the new character. I know the viewers will take time to accept my character but I have no problems with the same. Kyunki ofcourse, kisi ne is character ko pehle kiya hai, so definitely. Main apna 100 percent dene ki koshish karungi jaise mujhe director sir batayenge, jaise mujhe Rajan sir batayenge, jaise shoot hoga story line, jaise aage badega, main apna 100 percent koshish karungi baaki god will decide and thu thu thu, I leave it up to god and the viewers. I have recieved immense love for my previous shows too and ofcourse yahan bhi milega, thoda time definitely lagega because it is the number one show, sab ke ghar ghar mein hai. Jab koi controversy bhi hoti hai na toh logo ko pata chalta hai. So ofcourse, koi log haan bolenge, koi na bolenge, koi pasand nahi karenge. Isko sportingly lena hoga. Its a challenge but I do not take it as one. Ye mera difficult plus bahut important decision hai, I am very grateful that I got this show and I want to give my hundred percent to it.

I know the viewers will take time to accept my character but I have no problems with the same. Kyunki ofcourse, kisi ne is character ko pehle kiya hai, so definitely. Main apna 100 percent dene ki koshish karungi jaise mujhe director sir batayenge, jaise mujhe Rajan sir batayenge, jaise shoot hoga story line, jaise aage badega, main apna 100 percent koshish karungi baaki god will decide and thu thu thu, I leave it up to god and the viewers. I have recieved immense love for my previous shows too and ofcourse yahan bhi milega, thoda time definitely lagega because it is the number one show, sab ke ghar ghar mein hai. Jab koi controversy bhi hoti hai na toh logo ko pata chalta hai. So ofcourse, koi log haan bolenge, koi na bolenge, koi pasand nahi karenge. Isko sportingly lena hoga. Its a challenge but I do not take it as one. Ye mera difficult plus bahut important decision hai, I am very grateful that I got this show and I want to give my hundred percent to it.

- Adrija Roy

Like you mentioned, there will be people who may like you and people who do not. Since the replacement is so fresh, did you face any sort of online trolling?

It is not about trolling. See, if you have 10 friends , toh 10 mein se 10 apako ek jaise pyaar karenge aise toh nahi hota hai na. Kabhi kabhi pasand karte hai and kabhi kabhi nahi karte, toh isliye bhi hum bestfriend kisi ko bolte hai na. So it is just that mere jo fan pages hai mere jo fans hai wo mujhse pyaar karte hai. Matlab, 100 mein se 80 percent mujhe pyaar karte hai and baaki 20 percent, see it is not about the negatives. Agar main bhi shayad audience hoti aur mujhe aisa lagta ke aise ho raha hai toh main bhi shayad bolti ke kaise hoga, kaise kaam karegi, mujhe bhi doubt hoga. This will happen because the show is very good and I will doubt how will this new girl take it ahead , so it is a very big responsibility. I am being honest, whatever the trolling is, I have gotten very less time for my work right now. I am focusing on my character and myself right now, not on the trolling.

Tell us about your interaction with Rupali Ganguly, Shivam Khajuria and other actors?

It was amazing and the entire family, Anupamaa mam, the entire family is very amazing and very welcoming and I have liked this aspect. And humari pyaari Rupali ji, I have met her before too and we share a great bond. We are both Bengalis. It is my third day here and teen din mein jaisa bonding hota hai wo achi hai, I hope aage jaa ke cheeze aur achi hojayegi.