We are celebs,take rough with smooth-Nikita

Nikita Sharma, the lead girl of Nautanki Telefilms' Do Dil... Ek Jaan (Life OK) is happy with the growth of her show.

Talking about the rise in numbers, the girl avers, "The numbers are constantly rising and we are currently ranked two on the channel. Having said this, ups and downs are part of a show and we should not get too perturbed. I think the entire Dahi Handi preparations saw a slight drop in ratings last week, but we are confident."

Nikita is hopeful that with the entry of Dai mai (to be essayed by Shilpa Shinde), the show will reach a new high in terms of drama. "She has a very great influence on Raghu (Ayaaz Ahmed) and let us see how this affects the equation between Raghu and my character Antara. Shilpa Shinde is a very good actress and I am sure she will go a great job as the de facto controller of all that goes on in the chawl."

In the short time the show has been on air Nikita says, "I am overwhelmed by the love and affection of my fans. Some of them say that they eat and live Antara and would want a one hour episode every day."

"I was flooded with gifts, phone calls, messages and cards on my birthday recently, the sheer volumes of greetings meant that I had to switch off my phone, as it was affecting my output," she explains.

Here Nikita adds, "It is tough for me to play a character who was born in the comforts of Srinagar, but later had to shift to Mumbai. But what makes her march on is the belief in the truth which her murdered father (Farooque Sheikh) had instilled in her. She is very focussed on her life to educate her younger brother and also takes care of her mother."

Being a lead Nikita has no time for herself. "I am on set as soon as light men come and I am also one of the last to leave. I have just got one break since the show started, but I am cool for there is no gain if there is no pain."

Nikita is also smart enough and does not hold any grudges with the media for the rumours that were doing rounds that she might be replaced. "We are celebrities and have to take the rough along with the smooth. I think the confusion occurred when the plan to have a parallel lead opposite Raghu was misinterpreted as a ploy to replace me. I am still loved by the audience hence I am still around."