When Ronit Roy and Aasiya Kazi got together professionally, there was speculation on whether their pairing would succeed.
Aasiya Kazi
When Ronit Roy, often described as the super star of Indian television signed up to co-star with debutant Aasiya Kazi for a television serial, it stirred up quite a lot of interest. There was speculation on whether the newcomer would be able to make an impact against the highly experienced Ronit Roy. The two of them had been signed by Balaji Telefilms for the serial Bandini. The soap opera was based in rural India and was aired on NDTV Imagine.
Ronit Roy and Aasiya Kazi ' About the Show
Bandini told the story of young Santu (Aasiya Kazi) who is forced to marry a much older landlord, Dharmraj Mahiyavanshi (Ronit Roy). Dharmraj is a widowed land owner with five children.
Ronit Roy and Aasiya Kazi
His household is run by his elder sister, a woman who strongly believes in the caste system. Santo is just 18 when she is married to the 51-year old Dharmaraj. At first she finds life difficult in a household where her husband is still grieving for his dead wife. Her sister-in-law refuses to acknowledge Santu as she belongs to a lower caste. However, Santu slowly but surely finds her way in the household and soon becomes the pivot around which the family revolves. However, her life with Dharmraj has its ups and downs.
Ronit Roy and Aasiya Kazi ' The Impact
The serial came at a time when Indian audiences were clamoring for a change from the hackneyed mother-in-law/daughter-in-law soap sagas. Ekta Kapoor cashed in on the opportunity and created a serial that was set against a completely different background. The serial did have its fans and Aasiya Kaazi's character of Santu became a household name. The bond between the two lead characters in the show was cited as the main reason for its following, and Ronit Roy's star status helped the show a lot too.