Prithvi Vallabh actor Ashish Sharma: Channel is not TRP hungry

Ashish Sharma

Ashish Sharma doesn't take us by surprise when he says he greenlit his upcoming period drama, Prithvi Vallabh, because he found it "creatively satisfying". What does, however, take us off-guard is his assertion that the channel isn't TRP hungry. Sharma says makers of the show are hoping to be frontrunners of a creative revolution. "They are trying to bring in a new work culture. This show is a finite series. It is pre-shot, so the plot cannot be amended to boost ratings. Also, it has been mounted on a higher budget, the kind you rarely see on TV."

The gender role-reversal drama, as Sharma describes it, makes it "anything, but typical." While stereotypical roles revolve around an arrogant male protagonist, who mend his ways after a woman enters his life, Prithvi Vallabh, sees his peace-loving character paired alongside a war-savvy princess. "It's interesting to see the sensitive side of the man, who loves her the way she is" Sharma says, quick to add that his relationship with his on-screen princess, Sonarika Bhadoria, may at best be termed a "professional one".

"We are not friends. We usually keep to ourselves on the set. But, just because we don't have a gala time together, doesn't mean we are enemies. The show is physically exhausting, and we seldom get time to talk." Meanwhile, Sharma, along with wife Archana Taide, is set to create a feature film. Without divulging too many details, the actor reveals that a 2018 release is likely. "Archana is also working on a web show, but I won't feature in it. She doesn't think I'm good enough," he laughs. That the actor has entrusted his wife with his career decisions is made evident when he says, "My wife's yes is my yes; her no is my no." He adds, "She is objective, while I think emotionally when selecting a script. But, her decision is binding."

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