'Show like Anupamaa still finds...': Spreha Chatterjee says the show reinvents & evolves within its space

Sprehaa Chatterjee, who plays Maahi in Deepa Shahi and Rajan Shahi's Anupama, which is produced under their banner Shahi Production Pvt. Ltd., believes when a show runs for a long time, it becomes important to maintain a balance between new narratives and the core identity of the show.

She said, "I do think longevity can influence how much risk you take, but I wouldn’t say it limits risk-taking completely. It just makes it more thoughtful and more cautious, because you don’t want to disconnect from viewers who are deeply invested, especially in a show like Anupama that has such a strong and loyal audience base. When a story has been loved for so long, there’s a natural responsibility to protect its core identity, otherwise the audience won’t connect with it."

"A show like Anupama still finds ways to evolve and reinvent within its familiar space. Even small shifts in characters, emotions, or relationships can feel fresh without completely changing the essence. So it’s less about limiting risk and more about balancing innovation with consistency so that the show stays fresh while still keeping the essence of Anupama intact," she added.

I do think longevity can influence how much risk you take, but I wouldn’t say it limits risk-taking completely. It just makes it more thoughtful and more cautious, because you don’t want to disconnect from viewers who are deeply invested, especially in a show like Anupama that has such a strong and loyal audience base. When a story has been loved for so long, there’s a natural responsibility to protect its core identity, otherwise the audience won’t connect with it.

- Spreha Chatterjee

Sprehaa believes that an audience's loyalty is actually a strength, but it does come with a certain responsibility. She said, "When viewers are so emotionally invested in a show like Anupama, you have to be mindful of what they connect with." It doesn’t make experimentation harder, but it needs to be done carefully in order to make it feel organic."

"If a new track or a bold narrative stays true to the characters and their journeys and doesn’t feel forced, the loyal audience is usually very accepting and appreciative towards growth and new changes. So it’s really about respectfully balancing between what the audience loves while still finding ways to surprise them in a meaningful way," she added.

If a new track or a bold narrative stays true to the characters and their journeys and doesn’t feel forced, the loyal audience is usually very accepting and appreciative towards growth and new changes. So it’s really about respectfully balancing between what the audience loves while still finding ways to surprise them in a meaningful way

- Spreha Chatterjee

In a daily show like Anupama, everything is very fast-paced and well-structured, and the actress mentioned that, hence, spontaneity becomes both a challenge and a necessity. She said, "For me, it’s all about feeling how my character Mahi must be feeling in that moment and reacting honestly by letting my emotions guide my performance. That way I can adapt to the change in a situation quickly and keep my performance fresh and natural."

For me, it’s all about feeling how my character Mahi must be feeling in that moment and reacting honestly by letting my emotions guide my performance. That way I can adapt to the change in a situation quickly and keep my performance fresh and natural

- Spreha Chatterjee

She further shared that because the format is so disciplined, one learns how to find small spaces through expressions, pauses, or reactions, where they can add something organic. "Sometimes the most spontaneous expressions come from reacting in real time to a new line or situation, and those reactions actually turn out to be the most genuine on screen," Sprehaa ended.