Hope to get good response for second stint on 'Pavitra Rishta': Ankita Lokhande

Popular TV actress Ankita Lokhande, who took a short break from small screen, is happy to be back in action and hopes for a positive response during her second innings of her hit daily soap Pavitra Rishta.

She played the role of Archana in the serial, which she is rejoining now after the three-month sabbatical.

"The show has completed 1,000 episodes and I am happy that my request for a much deserved break was accommodated. I am back for a second innings on the show. I look forward to an equally enthusiastic response from my fans," Ankita said.

A few months ago she declared that she needed a break from television. There were reports that actresses like Shilpa Saklani and Gautami Kapoor were to replace her.

"I had taken a break as I wanted to spend some quality time with Sushant and my family. These three months have been refreshing," Ankita said.

For weeks, speculation was rife about producer Ekta Kapoor wanting to bring in a replacement for Ankita. But the actress has put all these rumors to rest by coming back on the show.

"What many people don't realise is that when you are part of a daily soap for as long as I have been associated with Pavitra Rishta, you don't really find time for anything else besides shooting," Ankita said.

"Ekta has been very kind to allow me to take the break I asked for and I am really grateful to her and the team for that," she said.

For the last few months, Ankita's character, Archana is shown to be in a coma, in the show.

Now that Ankita is back, she has started shooting for the soap, aired on Zee TV.