'Take someone else, don't SABOTAGE your show,': Why did Samridhii Shukla feel she was NOT good for YRKKH?

Samridhii Shukla, currently leading and winning hearts with her stint in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, recently, in an exclusive chat with India Forums revealed that she once thought of herself as 'not a good choice' for the show. Speaking to us, the actress looked back at her journey as Abhira Sharma for the past 2 years and took us back to when it all began.

Taking us back to how and when Abhira Sharma's character happened to her, the actress said, ''Ah!, so basically, I had auditioned for this show, for Abhira’s character, while I was still shooting on the Savi set. At that time, news had already started coming in about Savi going off-air, and calls were pouring in from everywhere for auditions. The very first audition, a self-test, I shot and sent from my set itself. Based on that, they called me in. Then they took me through two-three rounds of auditions, conversations, meetings, and finally, they selected me.''

The actress further reveals that she did not know she was auditioning for Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and says, ''While all of that was happening, I slowly realised how big this show actually was. Initially, they didn’t disclose the show’s name. You know how it is, Harshad and Pranali were still on board at the time, and there were whispers about a leap happening. There was also a lot of secrecy, like "You're not allowed to say anything." So everything had to be done very hush-hush. I found out quite late.''

Samridhii further reveals how, after being selected for the show, she felt an 'unsaid' pressure. She says, ''But then they selected me. In fact, someone else was almost finalised and I know who she is and she’s also doing really well right now. But somehow, I got selected. After that, of course I was happy, but there was this unsaid kind of pressure too... “Yeh show itne saalon se chal raha hai. Agar main aayi aur show band ho gaya toh?” I knew it would fall heavily on us, the leads. That’s how it works, no? So I was very scared. I kept thinking, “Yaar, they’ve done such a good job, set such a high benchmark… I don’t know if I’ll be able to live up to it.”

But somehow, I got selected. After that, of course I was happy, but there was this unsaid kind of pressure too... “Yeh show itne saalon se chal raha hai. Agar main aayi aur show band ho gaya toh?”

- Samridhii Shukla

The actress then compares being onboarded on the show to a 'running train,' and says, ''Plus, because it was an ongoing show, there wasn’t much briefing. I didn’t get time to prepare. It was literally like jumping onto a moving train. In my previous show, things were very cushioned. Everything was spoon-fed. I was pampered there, to be honest — so I didn’t have to learn everything on my own. That show ran for about 14 months, and now here I was — suddenly leaping into a moving train again.''

''Half the unit was working in Bombay, and we were shooting in Mahabaleshwar. My very first day was there. That’s where I got the script — and oh God, there were so many lines! And the character... it was completely opposite to who I am. I was like, “Shit, yeh kya hai? Main toh aisi hoon hi nahi!” And I had no time. Unlike the previous show, where we had workshops and prep time — here, there was nothing. No sitting, no discussions. I was honestly like, “Shit, yeh kya ho gaya?,'' Samridhii further adds.

Then opening up on why did she feel she was not 'good enough' for the show, the actress says, ''Every night I would go back to my room and cry. I kept thinking, “I don’t think I should be doing this. I think they’ve made the wrong choice. I should just tell them — take someone else. I won’t mind. Just don’t sabotage your show for me.”

Every night I would go back to my room and cry. I kept thinking, “I don’t think I should be doing this. I think they’ve made the wrong choice. I should just tell them — take someone else. I won’t mind. Just don’t sabotage your show for me.

- Samridhii Shukla

''But then, some little voice inside me kept saying, “Don’t say that.” Thankfully, I didn’t. And then, slowly, when I saw the first episode, Initially, I didn’t even understand what my directors wanted from me. Because the character was so different from who I am. But when I saw the first telecast episode, I realised — “Oh, I’m looking like this. I’m doing this. THIS is the character!” That’s when it clicked. “Accha, yeh chahte hain yeh log,'' says Samridhii revealing how she imbibed the character.

''After that, I caught the rhythm. I understood what was needed. I began speaking faster, acting extroverted — even though I’m not like that — and flipped a switch inside me. I told myself, “I have to do what I have to do. I HAVE to give my best. They’ve taken such a big chance on me. I cannot let them down,'' she concludes.

For those who do not know, Samridhii replaced Pranali Rathod to be the leading lady of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and has been the face of the show for almost 2 years now. She is currently paired opposite Rohit Purohit.