Sharad & Divyanka -article

" LOVE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE, ANYTIME AND WITH ANYONE"

They met during the talent hunt, Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj and became friends. They didn't know then that they would get their first big break together in the same show. Today, they are the most happening couple on the small screen. Slowly and steadily, Divyanka Tripathi and Sharad Malhotra have managed to become one of the most loved couples on television.

She wooed the audience with her innocent smile and sweet voice, while he won the hearts of the viewers through his brilliant child-like antics in the serial Banoo Main Teri Dulhan. Personally too, both are as friendly and pleasant to be around as their characters in the serial. Here's an interesting chat with this talented duo about the sugar, the spice, the nice and the not-so-nice…in their lives.

So how did Sharad decide to get into this profession and manage his big break? "It all started when I won the Face of the Year pageant in Kolkata in 2001. Since then, I did a lot of ad-films, modelling and theatre. I did a few workshops with Kishore Namit Kapoor too, and then came to Mumbai for Zee Cinestars…. I was selected in the top 16 from boys all over India.

Unfortunately, I couldn't take part in the contest further, because I had an accident and had to go back for surgery. I did come back after that, and did a show called Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao. It was a cameo but my major break was …Dulhan," he smiles. "It took me a million auditions to get this role, because they didn't trust my acting abilities, since I was new. Finally, after many screen tests and auditions, they took a chance and it worked. So here I am."

As for Divyanka, she never thought she would become an actress because she was more of a tomboy. Like she says, "It may not seem so now, but my hobbies were very much like boys. I loved horse-riding and I'm also a gold-medallist in rifle shooting. I am fond of mountaineering and water-skiing. I really wanted to join the army, as I was an NCC cadet. I was the best cadet and had attended the biggest NCC camp, which is the Republic Day camp in Delhi.

But I'm also very experimental, so when I got a modelling offer, I took it up. That's when I realized I could also look beautiful. Later, I worked in a few serials for Doordarshan. When I was selected for Zee Cinestars…, I had acted in a few short films for DD. The …Dulhan production house happened to see these films, and after a few screen tests, they selected me. I didn't want to miss an opportunity like this. So I took it up."

What's been their experience working in a high-profile show like …Dulhan? "Well," says Sharad, "Initially, it was bad. The production house was a little cold towards us because we were new. But it was okay. Gradually, we got to know each other. Now it's like one happy family, where we fight, cry and laugh every day. We go out for dinners and lunches. It's pretty chilled out. Working in the serial is quite hectic, and it gets boring if you do the same thing continuously. But I keep improvising, so I enjoy it a lot."

Divyanka, on the other hand, has no complaints at all. "For me, working here is like studying in a school. Every day, I get to learn a lot more about acting, because I never had any training as such. I am new to acting and now the …Dulhan set is like my house. It's just like Sharad mentioned – we are a big and happy family. I have seen new relationships over here, and a new life. I really enjoy working here."

Working in …Dulhan may not have been all that much fun initially, but what about their experience working with each other? "It is good working with Divyanka as I knew her since Zee Cinestars…. It was a little awkward earlier, because it was my first big show. But I think everything has fallen into place now. We gel really well, as we have been working with each other for 11 months, about 13-14 hours a day.

We are extremely comfortable with each other. Knowingly or unknowingly, sometimes, we help one another. She is very understanding and an exceptionally hard-working actress. You don't get to see too many of them today. I am the one who is the prankster actually." Sharad makes it a point to add, "But she can also get very stubborn. If she has an opinion about something, no one can do anything to change it. She is very rigid at times."

Divyanka then looks at him and smiles, "Hmmm… I know him for about three years now, and we are friends. Sharad, Manish Nagdev, who plays Chinu in the serial, and me, all of us get along really well. We have a small trio here, and we go for dinners and lunches all the time. It's a lot of fun. I feel he is a very good actor, confident and well-prepared. He tries his best to perfect the scene and that's something I really like. But what I don't like, is that he is very moody. If he has to be rude to me in a scene, then he will be rude to me throughout the day. Besides that, it's fun to work with him. We solve our issues quite fast."

With such amazing chemistry between them, the results are bound to show on screen too. "As of now, my fan bracket is limited to the 8 to 10-year-olds," says Sharad. "But I am slowly moving up to the 18 and 20-year-olds. I remember this incident when we were shooting at a mall, where a lady came and told us that after Mihir and Tulsi, we were the best couple on TV.

That was very encouraging, as Mihir and Tulsi are the epitome of a perfect couple. Being in the same league as them was the best compliment we could get. I think what has clicked with the audience is the fact that we knew each other since two years, and we are very comfortable with each other. We also fight a lot, like cats and dogs," he laughs and adds, "She can get really stubborn and I am a very moody actor. But I guess it's a part and parcel of our work, and ultimately we solve the differences."

Divyanka shares the same thought. "We have got great reactions till now, but people don't know that we are all-time lovers on screen, and all-time fighters off screen. We fight so much, though it's all in good humour." She goes on, "I get calls from people every day, as they want to see us together. Specially now, when the track has changed a bit, and he doesn't recognize me in the serial.

People keep calling me and tell me to slap him. They love us as a couple and our hard work has ultimately paid off. The audience loves our spontaneous chemistry. People like things that are natural. Even though we fight a lot, we don't let it affect our scenes .We forget about it when we are in front of the camera."

Their fondness for one another is but obvious and so are the link-up rumours. How do they react to the industry buzz hinting at a romance between them? "It's absolutely perfect," says Sharad calmly. "Earlier, I used to get a little hyper, because my mom used to call me all the time and ask me if there was anything on between us.

She would get all the news from Mumbai, because I have cousins here. With time, I have sobered down a lot and have started taking things as they are. If you are a couple on screen, these stupid rumours are bound to spread. You have to take them with a pinch of salt and learn how to move on."

Quite expectedly, Divyanka agrees with what Sharad has to say. "Earlier, even I would be upset because of these rumours. If people say false things about you, anyone would feel bad. I am a very emotional person, so I used to really get affected. But I am used to it now. There are a lot of rumours about me at present, so it doesn't make a difference anymore. I have learnt to ignore such things. The truth will prevail ultimately. I don't need to clarify anything with anyone. If I know I am right, why should I give explanations to anyone?"

So if they are not seeing each other, is there anyone special in their lives? "No one at present," insists Sharad and adds quickly, "Whenever I think of love, I think of a beautiful girl straight out of a Yash Chopra film, looking sexy in a sari." Then, on a serious note, he states, "Honestly, she should be very understanding, as I am in a profession, where insecurities could be very high. She should be very simple, preferably not from the industry. That's all I would ask for."

Divyanka hasn't thought about her special someone in such detail, "I don't have any such specifications in my mind about love. I feel love can happen anywhere, anytime and with anyone. So being from the industry doesn't matter. He should just love me a lot and understand me. It's difficult to find someone who will love me for who I am. But there would be someone out there for me. I have kept my fingers crossed," she smiles.

Well, let's hope these on-screen soulmates get just as lucky in real life too!