Hiten Tejwani: Our kids are excited to see us together on screen

Hiten Tejwani and Gauri Pradhan

In the early 2000s, Hiten Tejwani and Gauri Pradhan were among the most-loved couples on television. The duo, who first featured together in an ad, soon headlined Kutumb. That was the beginning of their success story. Those who missed their magic then can witness it in Pashminna - Dhaage Mohabbat Ke. The two actors are returning to the screen after eight years with the love story. mid-day caught up with the pair on the show's set to discuss the experience of working together again and how they keep their romance alive after being married for 19 years.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

What's your secret to keeping the romance alive in your marriage?
Gauri Pradhan: We understand each other and give one another space. We are not into each other all the time. I am a person who needs her space. He is entertaining; with him going non-stop, I don't need to switch on my television [laughs]. When you are in a relationship, your partner changes you. While I am still a quiet and reserved person, it has changed [to a degree] because of Hiten and the kids. The credit goes to him [for keeping the romance alive].
Hiten Tejwani: Love is shown not only by saying it every day, but by doing things for each other. Understanding and supporting one another play a big role. I know that she is doing whatever she can for the kids as a mother, while I am constantly on shoots. All I have to do is be there for her.

You both are stark opposites of each other. What was that one common point of attraction?
GP: There is no similarity between us, be it in terms of our background or families. Now, my parents dote on him.
HT: [On the set], I saw everybody talking to each other. If I talked to a girl, she would respond. It was easy that way; I'd ask for her number or probably a date. But she didn't look at anybody and was buried in her book.

Was taking a sabbatical always on the cards for you?
GP: I had decided that I'd take a sabbatical after having kids. That's why we [waited] a long time [to have kids] because we wanted to work and travel. When they happened, I totally wanted to be with them.

Have your kids watched your shows?
HT: No, but the kids are excited to see us together on screen [in Pashminna]. For this generation [usually] everything is cringey. I've shown them our first ad together. The way I see it, some of their friends will eventually tell them about their [famous] parents. At that time, everybody will sit down together, watch [our shows] and probably laugh at us or appreciate our lives.

Tell us about your characters in Pashminna.
HT: There are a lot of layers to Avinash. It is an interesting character because he is a part of all the twists and turns in the storyline.
GP: I play a single mother to Pashminna [Isha Sharma], but we are more like sisters. While I give her the freedom to be who she is, my only advice to her is to not fall for a tourist. It's a unique relationship.

How does it feel reuniting on screen?
GP: Fans have been keen to see us together on screen. We've also been waiting for a long time to find something unique. Pashminna is a riveting love story and it was exactly what we were looking for.

What is it like to shoot in Kashmir?
HT: I am shooting here for the first time. Kashmir is a beautiful place, the air is so fresh and clear.
GP: I had shot for a show called Noorjahan with Siddharth's [P Malhotra, Pashminna producer] father in Kashmir. It was just a one-week schedule. We shot the aesthetically scenic parts in the Mughal Gardens and Nishat Bagh. Back then, Kashmir was not a commercial [tourist hub] as it has become now. But the warmth of the place hasn't changed.