Sceptical about being able to convince viewers, Surbhi says she hesitated to play a mother on Sherdil Shergill
Surbhi Chandna with baby Stavya Hirlekar
The always easy-going and effervescent Surbhi Chandna, who has given hits like Ishqbaaaz, Sanjivani, and Naagin, decided to go the digital route after her last stint. She was actively giving auditions for web shows while still deciding on the next phase of her career when she got a call from producer Saurabh Tewari of Madhubala fame. “We go way back. I remember auditioning for one of his older shows and being rejected by the channel. While he always considered me for his shows, the timing was never right,” says Chandna. She laid out her conditions — with her family as witnesses — and was ready to turn him down, especially when he told her that her character Manmeet Shergill in Sherdil Shergill is a single mother. “I politely declined the role. I was not ready to play a mother on screen. I had rejected [such roles] in the past.” However, she was convinced by Tewari’s narration and promise to “not change the narrative under the pressure [of TRPs].”
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Ask her why playing a mother was so daunting, considering it is the job of an actor to imbibe a character far removed from themselves, and Chandna reasons that she knew little about motherhood. “For me to choose a project, I have to be convinced about it and [be confident] that I can convince my audience. I don’t have the instincts of a mother until I have a child of my own, that is why I was hesitating, but Saurabh sir convinced me to do the role. The story will inspire millions. So, I got on board, following my heart.” The actor claims that having co-stars with starry tantrums is nothing compared to working with baby Stavya Hirlekar. “Every day, I would spend time with the baby while doing my hair and make-up. I played, sang songs, showed funny videos, and even danced for him so that he could come to me willingly. It was tough, but rewarding in the end,” says Chandna, accepting that there were times when she would get annoyed. “It is tough when you are emotionally ready for a scene and the baby starts wailing. The whole scene goes for a toss, but I believe I have started developing maternal instincts now.”
Also Read: Surbhi Chandna: I will never settle for something small like a wildcard in Bigg Boss
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