S. Shukla - Talks about Prats and Replacement.

• Meesha Kapoor

Telly star Pratyusha Banerjee's sudden exit from the daily soap 'Balika Vadhu' not only shocked millions of her fans but her co-stars as well.

In an exclusive interview with Emirates 24|7, 'Balika Vadhu' male lead Shiva aka Siddharth Shukla revealed how he didn't expect Pratyusha to leave so abruptly, especially when she was doing so well in the show.

"I was shocked when I heard about it because we had been shooting together just the previous day. The next day, she came on the set and told us she was quitting," he recalled.

Siddharth had joined the show a year ago. He was playing the role of Shiv - Pratyusha's screen image Anandi's second husband Shiv.

After Pratyusha quit the show, she was replaced by actress Toral Rasputra.

According to the feedback this site recieved audiences did not recieve Toral as well as Pratyusha.

As a compassionate co-star, Siddharth reveals the impact this has had on Toral.

"I was also new to the show and I know how Toral felt about the whole situation. As a part of the team, I have been there for her," said the 31-year-old actor.

The fans of the show were disapproving of the new pairing and even claimed that Siddharth looked better with Pratyusha than with Toral.

But, he disagrees.

"I think that is people's perception... for me, it is just about romancing the character Anandi."

Off-screen, however, Siddharth confessed to share a good rapport with Pratyusha.

"We could chit-chat and have a blast," said the actor.

"Toral is relatively new on the set. There are no issues, and our interaction is perfectly fine."

And, if he had to describe his two 'Anandis', he added that "Toral is hard working and Pratyusha is easy working".

With so much being written about Anandi, let's wait and watch if Siddarth and Toral can manage to create the same charm that he and Pratyusha managed to do.