Hi, I'm new to this part of posting on this forum, but I have seen many of the posts and replies on here and thought that maybe I should give my opinion. I've been watching the show from the beginning and have to say that I'm very impressed with the show and its track in comparison to other Indian tv shows that I have seen before, it is very mature in the way the story comes across and I'm not watching it sitting in disbelief thinking how this would even happen, which has happened to me on so many other itv shows I have seen. The majority of the time watch western shows (as I'm from the UK) and only happen to watch Indian shows when my mum does ššusually I go out of my way to avoid them as I find the story lines unbelievable and irritating due to their slow pace, unrealistic storylines and their inability to stay with the same idea the show started with (e.g. Sasural Simar Ka and Dil se Dil Tak)
However, I must be honest and say that this is one show I am extremely impressed (doesn't happen often with itvš) with due to the storylines and the acting which is on another level, Jennifer Winget's sweet smiles and Harshad Chopda's intensity clearly shown through his eyes (wowā¤ļø), and the change of emotions is something that both characters portray extremely well.
As I mentioned above I have seen many of the posts and replies of people who have recently been annoyed by the pace of the show and the way the characters have been shown, and whether the characters and the cv's have given the actors justice.
In regards to Zoya the general idea I got was that people feel like the character is ruined, that Jennifer Winget has made the wrong choice (I completely disagree) as Zoya is acting dumb and not seeing Aditya's feelings, which I can understand to an extent but the overriding feeling I get from people is negativity and many are not willing to give the show a chance during this week which I was quite disappointed to see as I feel like this show is excellent. To understand Zoya I think you must go back to start and see Zoya's character, she was girl who fell in love and eloped she always believed in the idea of the perfect romance and perfect man and felt that Yash was that. She left and went against her dad and family. She was almost living in a fairy-tale and felt that everything was perfect until it was shattered to pieces when she discovered that Yash cheated, the man that she loved, the one she left everyone for had broken her in the worst way imaginable, he had broken her trust. We saw her in denial not accepting what Yash had done even when Aditya had told her multiple times, she was trying to piece back this perfect life and believe that nothing had happened between Poosh and Yash was the perfect man-the one she loved. Her suicide showed the pain she was in 6 months ago that she was willing to end it all. We saw the pregnancy reveal which broke her but Sakshi lying allowed her to pretend and attempt to piece together some part of that perfect life, that Poosh's relationship was not physical but just friendship and Yash was only hers. She returned after the 6 months and we saw a subtle change, she was more into her business. Then the track of the Aditya's feelings started, and people have started to question her character and have said that the cv's have ruined her and Zoya is dumb. I completely disagree, I feel during the 6 months Zoya realised her perfect life was gone, the one she tried to piece back together by protecting Yash, she knows in the back of her head that despite everything that Sakshi said and how much she convinced herself, she knew that her life wasn't perfect with Yash, he wasn't her friend, he wasn't hers, but only a lover who she was completely head over heels in love with. Aditya's friendship and the 6 months without him made her realise what she didn't have with Yash and what she so desperately craved was friendship which she now had with Aditya thus her run to the airport and wanting to bring him back. Her constant repetition of calling Aditya her 'best friend' (whilst annoyingš) is reassurance to herself, she wants that in her life so much and doesn't want it to be taken away like how her lover was. She doesn't seem to realise the feelings that Aditya has for her as she has completely shut herself off to the idea of love, in a sense that to her it almost doesn't exist, the one she loved unconditionally broke her trust in love and she also feels partially responsible for him cheating and doesn't want/won't allow love in her life again where it can be broken and taken away from her so easily. She would rather have a friendship with trust which is something that she has never had before. Zoya's realisation would be something intense, something which she is in complete denial of, how could she let herself fall in love again after everything that happened to her, she must feel like she doesn't deserve a second chance in love and would rather keep the friendshipš„ŗ. The way JW portrays Zoya is unique she is a character who had been hurt, broken but has always tried to keep a smile on her face and protect the one she loved, I feel like people need to continue watching and watch the layers of the character unravel where we see Zoya's deepest thoughts from her POV, love is something that won't come easy to her due to her past betrayal in love hence her inability to recognise Aditya's feelings. The Arshad track is a parallel to Yash this is the one her father chose for her not the one she did, she loves her father so much that she wants to give this guy a chance as she feels that going against her father was wrong and wants to apologise and feels that giving Arshad a chance could be the way. She can't trust herself in love so would rather have someone chosen for her than to choose and be hurt hence giving Arshad a chance rather than Aditya. This may show her that marriage is an intimate relationship of love between 2 people and only she has the right to choose, regardless of what happened she can love again and have trust which she will find in Aditya.
Aditya's character is also very complex he thought he 'loved' pooja, but she was only his best friend. Cheating on him also shattered him but brought out a realisation that he never actually loved her as a wife but as a friend (in this sense Zoya is his first love). He never had that intimate relationship and wanted to take his friends on holiday with them whereas with Zoya he wants it to be the 2 of them. He was able to forget all the times they had together and see her negatively whereas Zoya's love denied her to see the truth. There was no 'love' as such between Aditya and Pooja but friendship, hence why he was able to accept reality, there was no emotional connection. Harshad Chopda's acting is phenomenal his eyes draw you into the character, the subtle change in his eyes and movement portray his feelings to the audience where we can feel them. Aditya's track for some people seems to be rushed however this is Aditya. He has never experienced love like this before, how Zoya craves friendship he craves love, they have experienced what the other has not. He wants Zoya to know (like she does with the best friend thing) how he feels before someone else can take her away. We have seen Aditya's pov he has let his past go and moved into the future whereas Zoya has not. Now he sees Arshad as Yash, someone who will interfere with the one he loves. The feeling of love is new to him and he wants to share it with Zoya as soon as possible but she needs time. The reveal of the Poosh's baby, and the murderer will bring them closer I think.
The important thing about the show is the unique story, the Adiya love story will always revolve around Poosh and their murder, they are the reason that they met, it was their fate to meet but until everything about Poosh is revealed there will always be this obstacle in the middle for them. The show will have some slow parts but there are small details and looks during this which are important to the story. I think as views of BP we are so used to the fast-paced show as most of the murder was covered in a few months that this seems slow, but it's needed otherwise the track will begin to move away from the original story and we will end up with the usual boring itv. I also think it's difficult to see your favourite actor in a completely different role to the one you loved them so much in even if this is better. Their characters are unique, 2 people who were hurt and betrayed but have found love again and willing to give it a second chance.
Jennifer Winget and Harshad Chopda's portrayal of this is fantastic and, on another level, their chemistry is amazing and brings another dimension to the characters.š
Please let me know your thoughtsš and keep watching to increase the TRP'sš
PS. I am extremely sorry for this very long-winded post it's almost an essayš³, but I feel like it sums up the characters and their actions until now and their thoughts.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Mythology
