No I don't think she acts better than Smiley.
Ekta might've been wanting one who was an overt vamp & Lavina fits the bill very well! And there is the fact that she looks very much like a Mughal princess.
But Smiley was excellent in the role because of the layers she brought to her acting. She was subtle unlike this Lavina which is probably why Smilie replaced, apart from "she cannot act " bit.
Lavina's Ruqaiyya is loud, obnoxious & obsessed with Power & Position. She's the perfect juxtaposition to the angelic Jodha so that Indian audiences will by default, root for JJ & not JR. Which many people had begun to.
And I am sure many from Ekta's stable visit this Forum. Strong hunch I have. 😆
Lavina is good. But no I don't think she acts well as Ruqaiyya. Ruqaiyya wasn't even supposed to be good-looking! Lavina is pretty! And she was supposed to be subtle & cruel yet vulnerable in short-layered the way Smilie was!!
Edited by Mallika-E-Bhais - 11 years ago
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