Television stars' reel to real bonding

TV actors, working in daily soaps spend at least 12 hours a day on the sets through the week. Being in such close proximity, it’s not surprising that many reel relationships  culminate in real life bonds. 

There are numerous instances of  onscreen couples becoming life partners like actors Hiten Tejwani-Gauri Pradhan and Nandish Sandhu-Rashmi Desai. But lately, even the affectionate bond shared by actors and their onscreen parental figures is extending to real life.

Virendra Saxena and Mitali Nag who play father and daughter in Afsar Bitiya, the mother-daughter teams of Akanksha Singh and Ashnoor in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kucch Kaha, Smita Bansal and Pratyusha Bannerjee in Balika Vadhu, Rupali Ganguly and her on-screen children Anchal and Rakshit in Parrvarish — Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi are prime examples of reel-turned-to-real bonding.

While some connected instantly, others took time to break the ice. For instance, Mitali initially felt initimidated by her on-screen father. “He is a senior actor and a little reserved. But as we started working, he revealed his true self. He has been like a father figure to me. When I was looking for a house, he immediately called up his broker friend and got me one,” she gushes.

Actor Smitha Bansal was not too happy about Pratyusha replacing her on-screen daugher-in-law Anandi aka Avika Gor, so she maintained a cordial relationship. “Pratyusha came in at a time when Avika was leaving the show. We were all depressed, but Pratyusha with her charming personality won me over,” recalls Smitha. While Pratyusha claims to have found a friend, philosopher and guide in Smitha, she’s also a permanent fixture in Smitha’s family.

As for Akanksha, it was Ashnoor’s smartness, discipline and love for arts that brought them close to each other. “I started helping her in drawing and homework. We are growing together, both in reel and real life,” smiles Akanksha.

Rupali Ganguly, on the other hand, took to her on-screen kids from day one. She knew Anchal from the film We Are Family and instantly liked the “cute Sunny”. Now, Anchal has become her fashion designer, while Sunny has become her favourite kid.

Looks like, even in the cut-throat world of television, actors are going beyond their scripted lines to nurture new-found relationships.