Posted:
I feel both characters are written to balance each other out. But I do agree there are times when Naina comes across a little less realistic. I think part of the problem is that we, as the viewer, rarely get insight into her character. One of the first scenes we see between the sisters.. is where Meghna tells Naina-- "you never tell me what's in your mind". I can understand that that is her character on the show. Naina is someone who keeps her personal feelings/opinions bottled up from other characters. But I find it harder to relate to character who always keeps their feelings bottled up from me as the viewer.
With Meghna there have been a few times where we have seen her dilemma between doing the "right" thing and doing what she really wants. She wants revenge but also doesn't want innocents to get hurt. I find that relatable. In my view, all humans have a devil and an angel within us. We are all shades of grey. I see that grey in Karan and Meghna the most which is why I find them more interesting. Like Karan taking out his anger on Naina before the dance... he's being unfair by doing that but its a very relatable human emotion. Kunal is more like Naina in that he rarely puts a step out of place. But even he has his grey moments like telling his dad its a business deal in order to fulfill his personal desires. But Naina has rarely shown us any personal desires which I think is unrealistic.
For example, if anyone's has read Harry Potter. He's one of the most selfless characters. But still there are scenes like where he imagines taking the Triwizard's cup for himself. He imagines the adulation of everyone including the girl he likes. He enjoys the idea of glory. But yet he makes a sacrificing decision.
The problem isn't that Naina is understanding about Karan's disease or that she chooses to make her marriage work... but its that we don't occasionally glimpse a flip side of frustration or anger of being put in a position that is completely unfair to her. Yes she made that decision of marrying Karan, which she owns and that is fantastic!
But she was also put in a position where she had to make a choice she wouldn't have normally made if it weren't for NK's unfair demands. But at that point she believed Karan to be normal and that it would be possible for them to have a normal married life. But to find out about Karan's disease and that there was a possibility that she may never have a normal married life... its unrealistic that a normal person wouldn't have some sort of confusion for the risk that posed to her own life's dreams. Even to just go to Nirmala and ask why she wasn't told from the start (at least that would've exposed Sandy a bit).
Again, with the dance competition, her dilemma was her being caught between not wanting to disrespect her idol vs the right thing for Karan's confidence. But what about Naina's own desires? Everyone enjoys the thought of winning on a personal level.. the fact that she never really contemplates that is a bit unrealistic.
I'd say that frustrates me because hindi serials typically try to glamorize a patriarchal ideal that women should be entirely selfless and live for the betterment of others. That even a hint of personal desire or ambition in a woman, is selfish. That's I'd really like to see more of Naina's ambitions and inner secrets. For me that would make her more of a real person.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Fan Fictions
