Ten months after joining the cast of Vasudha as the fierce matriarch Chandrika Singh Chauhan, actress Parineeta Borthakur says the response from audiences has left her “overwhelmed.” The show has held the No. 1 spot on Hindi General Entertainment Channels (GEC) for the last four consecutive weeks. Parineeta credits much of that momentum to the shift in energy that followed her entry into the series.
From No. 2 to No. 1 During IPL Season
Before Parineeta joined the show, Vasudha had occupied the No. 2 position for three weeks. When she stepped into the role, the show’s Television Rating Point (TRP) stood at 1.4. It later rose to 2.0, a milestone made even more special because it was achieved during the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, when viewership is typically fragmented.
However, taking over a character originally played by Nausheen Ali Sardar came with its own set of challenges. Parineeta spoke candidly about replacing the original actor, dealing with initial backlash, and the dos and don’ts of stepping into a pivotal role.
Initial Backlash and Audience Reluctance
Opening up about her early days on set, Parineeta admitted that not everyone was ready to welcome the change. “When I came on board, not everyone reacted nicely to the news,” she said. “People who hadn’t seen my work were a bit reluctant. Obviously, everyone has fans, and those fans aren’t going to be happy right away.”
She added that viewers familiar with her previous roles in shows like Swaragini, Bepannah, and Spy Bahu were more supportive from the start. “But that was only at the start. Now people are giving a lot of love—way more love than I ever expected. I definitely didn’t think it would be like this at the time.”
First Time Replacing Another Actor
This marks Parineeta’s first experience replacing another actor on a show. The transition, she says, taught her a great deal about handling both the character and audience expectations. “Yes, it is my first replacement ever,” she said. “I don’t know if I want to replace anybody again. It wasn’t even—I don’t know if ‘replace’ sounds a bit bad. I mean, she mutually left, and they couldn’t obviously end the character. They had to continue the character. It’s one of the leads of the show.”
Dos and Don’ts for Taking Over a Role
For actors walking into an established role, Parineeta has simple advice: study the character, but don’t let early negativity affect you. “So I think the do’s and don’ts I would say are: do study the character—understand why people love the character. And don’t take the negativity initially. Prove yourself. I think that’s very important.”
She credited her approach to balancing Chandrika’s strength with her motherly side for helping her win over viewers. “Initially I followed the mannerisms but after that I just approached the role as I always would, from the start,” she shared earlier.
Grateful for Audience Love
With Vasudha continuing its strong run at No. 1, Parineeta says she is simply grateful that the audience has embraced her version of Chandrika. “The love from the audience, it’s just indescribable. I’m beyond grateful.”
Vasudha also stars Priya Thakur and Abhishek Sharma. The show airs on Hindi GEC.
