Neha booted, Narayani in - article

Neha Mehta, the female lead in the serial Mamta who was giving her producers sleepless nights by refusing to be part of the upcoming 20 year leap has been replaced by Narayani Shastri. Unlike Neha, Narayani has no issues with being part of a generation leap as the clever actress knows that barring a Smriti Irani in Kyunki nobody looks aged or haggard in soap land even if they are nearing 60. Talking about stepping into the soap Narayani says, "I have no problem with playing a mother, as I have already played a mother in Piya Ka Ghar. I am not ageing too much on screen either since I am playing a mother to a 15-year-boy. Besides everything depends on the role, not the age of the character."

When it was out that Narayani was going to step into Mamta a lot of eyebrows were raised as it has been reported in the past that she had a fall out with the show's producers who were at that point producing Piya Ka Ghar. The actress is happy that she has been quizzed about this fall out as she says, "I want to clarify that two years ago when I was doing Piya Ka Ghar some newspapers had wrongly reported that I had problems with Shreyas Production. This is like a slap on the face of those newspapers, as I am working with the same production house with Mamta again after two years. And it feels like I am returning to my family."

Actually more than returning to her family, it's more like she is returning on screen as one didn't get to see her much on screen. Narayani too is happy to be back and says she is content with doing just one serial as this gives her time for herself. After the leap, the show will revolve around Krish (the baby who was separated from his father) and his parents.