Neha Marda on playing a Rajkumari

Tell us something about your character.

I play Rajkumari Priyamvada. At the time of her birth, an astrologer finds fault in her horoscope wherein Priyamvada could end up wandering in her life. Fearing this, her mother never lets her out of the palace. Thus, she's been living like a caged bird. When Priyamvada turns 18, she wants to break free and so one fine day, she runs away from her home.

Don't you think that your role is similar to Karishma Kapoor in Anari?

Agreed. The overall concept is similar but the main difference is that the film was based on the story of 3 brothers and one sister while in the serial my mother plays the main role of keeping me aloof from outside the world.

In the 21st century, can we really expect a princess to live the life of a caged bird?

I know that in this modern age it's not possible. But I just want people to enjoy it as a fairy tale and not to apply any logical end to it.

How does Priyamvada relate to Neha?

There are no similarities between Priyamvada and Neha. I'm a free bird. Though, I must confess that I did aspire to look like a queen, I couldn't become one so I'm glad to be acting as one.

How did you bag this role?

I never aspired to be an actress. I was always passionate about dancing and singing. I've participated in Boogie Woogie thrice. Thereafter, I featured in Star Plus' Kaboom, where I won Rs 30 lakhs. That gave me the necessary exposure and soon I bagged the lead role in Sahara One's Saath Rahega Always but the show didn't do well. I had also done Ghar Ek Sapna with Harsh Chayya and with his help I got the role of Rajkumari.

The USP of the show is that it has been shot at Pataudi Palace so how that experience?

It was great. When I first heard that the shooting will take place in the palace I was asking the production house whether it is true. Eight days a month we are in Delhi at the Pataudi palace. I had earlier seen it in the film Veer-Zaara

Finally, how's life in Mumbai and have you found your Rajkumar in real life?

No, not yet. At the moment, I'm occupied with my work. That doesn't mean I don't find time to relax. I feel like a free bird in Mumbai. Back home (Kolkata), my evenings were spent travelling from the fourth to the fifth floor! Mumbai truly is a rocking place and I miss it dearly when I'm away from it.