I consider myself to be a decent judge of acting skills, having done some courses in critical analysis of cinema and written some movie and book reviews. As we are in the Silsila forum, I am going to comment only on the cast's acting, focusing more on Drashti as that's what this post is about.
Drashti is a very talented actress, and without a doubt, one of the best on Indian Television. I barely noticed her in Dil Mil Gaye, as I didn't consistently follow the serial; I just knew her as the curly haired girl with a supporting role. But Geet caught my attention even before the Maaneet romance began, mainly because of Drashti's acting. She portrayed the role with absolute genuineness and captured each and every nuance of the character perfectly. Be it intense scenes, romantic scenes, or funny scenes, she aced every one of them. Of course, Maaneet was the cherry on top and set the screen on fire. I don't think she has or will have better chemistry with anybody else on screen.
I liked her in Madhubala too, but I think her character wasn't very different from Geet. So, while her performance was consistently excellent, I did wish she had a slightly different personality. Rishbala's chemistry was good too, although I would rate it slightly less than Maaneet.
I didn't watch much of Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani and Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil, but I think her equation with her co-stars was less effective with every show, and again, I couldn't find much of a difference in her character. I know some other actresses (Jennifer Winget is the best example) who have played very different characters on different shows and done well each time.
However, Silsila was different for Drashti. She played an older, more matured woman with a more complicated character. She was no longer a girl. She was absolutely stunning as Nandini, and Kunan's chemistry was superb, especially with the whole forbidden element. Both her role and relationship were very different from her earlier roles, and she did a brilliant job. From being the chirpy, bubbly, daring, and loud girl, she became a homely, quiet, scared, and matured woman, and she did justice to every bit of it. I think the entire cast of Silsila was like blocks of different shapes fitting into the correct slots - everyone did their job perfectly. I know that Nandini's frequent bouts of crying (mockingly called "vibration" in this forum) were irritating to some viewers, but to me, it was totally real. Crying isn't supposed to be aesthetically pleasing. Even Mauli had frequent bouts of crying, and Aditi's crying style and the way she delivered her dialogues was also repetitive, but that's her style of crying. And Nandini had a different style of crying. Nothing is better or worse.
As for Aditi, I always noticed and knew her from long ago, even before she did Ganga. Many members of this forum became her fan only after seeing Mauli, but I was always Aditi's fan. I felt that she hadn't gotten her due and deserved better. And I guess she finally has. I don't think Mauli is a challenging character to portray; in fact, it is the most relatable character for the women of today's generation. But I am not judging Aditi's acting abilities because of that; I think she is as good an actress as Drashti is. Although, I did not like Maunal's chemistry at all, but I am not going to elaborate on it.
Shakti is, to me, is unconventional in terms of the way he looks and acts, as compared to other actors of Indian Television. He is not the typical bulked-up, model-ish guy with killer good looks. He is the guy next door who nobody wouldn't pay much attention to, unless they interacted with him. His acting skills are a big asset, and I first noticed him in the cameo he did on Pavitra Rishta. I immediately liked him and wondered why he didn't have a lead role in a serial. And boom, he was the lead in Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi! He played very different roles as Ranveer and Kunal, and he proved his versatility through both. In fact, both characters went through waves of variation, and I guess he played a double role too for Meri Aashiqui. I haven't seen a more expressive actor on screen (other than Sidhant Gupta), and I really feel bad for all the backlash he's getting. He deserves better. And so does Drashti. I admire both of them - one for having the guts to leave the show, and another for having the guts to continue with it.
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