TOI: Tellywoods fave actress on Womens day

On W-Day (and Holi), here's taking a look at some TRP-tripping characters from prime time telly who add color to our evenings

Perfect mix As Priya Kapoor in Bade Achche Lagte Hain, Sakshi Tanwar is independent, fun-loving and a caring person. A working woman who's just turned screen-bahu she enjoys exploring places, believes in charity, enjoys cooking and at the same time keeps an eagle eye on her husband's diet. The ultimate fantasy bahu for any urban family!

Funny face Daya (played by Disha Vakani) has become a part of Gujarati households over the years thanks to her flamboyant on screen presence. A caring homemaker, her trademark crackling laughter and her strange dialect have made her a much loved character, getting even children glued to the television to have a dekko of her.

Crusader to Fringe bahu Anandi (played by Pratyusha Banerjee) of Balika Vadhu - Kachchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte had just started off getting our applause as the new face of rural India and symbol of Women empowerment when she was voted as the Sarpanch of her village. But the bouquets came too soon, Anandi is currently trying to win her straying hubby back from his second wife. Sic!

Earth mom Sweet and sacrificing sister, dedicated lover, perfect bahu and good mother, Archana of Pavitra Rishta (played by Ankita Lokhande) gives up on her marriage to please her brattish son and bitchy MIL (yes you heard it right!). You can go on and write a novel on her sacrificing acts, but she's also endearingly real and manages to make her presence felt amid the other tearjerking bahus.

Sugar & spice girl A vivacious small town girl who comes to Delhi to eke out a living, Khushi (played by Sanaya Irani) in Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon? gets romantically involved with a rich biz tycoon and even ends up married to him. This Mills& Boonish story could have had a spunkier female character than the mass of emotions that she's been reduced to of late! Get some of your courage back girl and leave the rona-dhona to the other cry babes!

Dream catcher beti A simple girl who dreams of becoming a Block Development Officer, Krishna (played by Mitali Nag) in Afsar Bitiya has a career interest that sets her apart from other small screen betis. She's so focused that she even rejects the love of an eligible man. Quite hatke!

The ultimate doormat princess Docile can be redefined if you think the painfully shy and devoted Gopi Bahu (played by Giaa Manek) of Saath Nibhana Saathiya. A Rajkot girl, Gopi's got a permanent worry mark on her face and has the uncanny ability to cow down to everyone (on the show), has enabled the serial to ride high on the TRP charts. An ideal (by telly definition, not ours), hopefully post this W-Day, she'll acquire some backbone too.

The sacrificial lamb Ichcha of Uttaran (played by Tina Dutta) can arouse varied emotions in you (not necessarily pleasant) as she tries to be the good daughter, friend, DIL, wife, mom. Phew! All that high pitched saccharine sweetness can give you Diabetes (pun intended), but has kept the TRPs of the show soaring too! More power to her lachrymose glands.

Mom from hell Shweta Tiwari as Sweety Singh Ahluwalia in Parvarish... Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi is small screen's first tiger Mom and quite the showstealer. A strict Punjabi mom to two teenagers, she lives her life by her own rules and expects her family to do the same. Over-protective, intrusive but the ultimate earth mother, this is one woman who everyone loves to hate and love too!

Diva in khakee As the loud and OTT woman cop, Chandramukhi Chautala, Kavita Kaushik in FIR wears her khakee sexily like no one else can or has on telly. Honest, tough, straightforward with a motormouth and dry sense of humour, Chandramukhi's men might have changed in the last five years, but her ability to nab the baddies and keep the show going for five years remains constant.

Double whammy Sandhya (played by starling Deepika Singh) of Diya Aur Bati Hum, Nursesdreams to become an IPS officer. Destiny might have temporarily made her a bahu of a rigid, and Orthodox family, but Sandhya's trying a fine balance of chasing her dreams and making her in-laws happy.

Compiled by Shruti Jambhekar