Divyanka Tripathi opens up on rejecting 'Bade Acche Lagte Hain 2’, says 'Nakuul Mehta and I won't look good on-screen'

Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, who is best known for her role of Ishita Iyer in ‘Yeh Hai Mohabbatein’ has made headlines after she turned down ‘Bade Acche Lagte Hain 2’. Divyanka can be recently seen on season 11 of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ for which she was shooting in South Africa’s Cape Town till earlier last month.

In a conversation with ETimes, Divyanka opened up on why she rejected ‘BALH 2’. The actress shared that after 15 years of working in the TV industry, she should have the liberty to choose a project that she’s passionate about.

“After working for so many years into this industry if it is me or anyone as an actor we should have at least this liberty to choose a project which I am passionate about. If I don’t feel for that project, it would be wrong on my part to accept the offer and then won’t be able to give the results that I am expected to give,” Divyanka said.

Divyanka also shared that she had ‘apologetically conveyed’ the message to the team of ‘BALH 2’ and had to clarify the same so that other projects don’t stop coming to her.

She said, “And with this honesty and apologetically conveyed to them that I won’t be able to do the project. I don’t relate to this project, I conveyed my feelings. During the live there were many questions from fans and one of them was about Bade Acche Lagte Hain so I had to convey that I am not a part of it. Also, what happens is when an actor is constantly part of the news for a project, the other industry people stop offering that actor other projects. So I had to give out the message as well that I am not doing Bade Acche Lagte Hain. I felt it was important to convey this message and this was the only intend behind saying this.”

Divyanka’s main reason to turn down ‘Bade Acche Lagte Hain 2’ is that she felt her pairing with Nakuul Mehta would not look good and her family also were of the same thought.

“Secondly, as far as the report of me looking older than him onscreen is considered in fact I totally agree with it. Because when I was offered the show and I was proposed this idea, I was surprised after hearing about the pairing and my family also reacted the same way. They felt that we would look slightly off. But when I spoke to the show’s team over the phone, I agreed to do the look test. I felt like let’s give the look test and see how our pair actually looks on screen. As an actor I always like to first do a scene or do a look test, that’s how I get convinced to do a particular project. I like to know if I am capable of doing it, I don’t even need to see it onscreen, I like to just feel the process. After doing the character I was still not able to relate to it and I feel that’s a very personal choice,” Divyanka said.

She added, “If I am not able to relate to it, that doesn’t mean someone else will also won’t. Someone else can relate to it and might do her 200 percent justice to the show. And I am sure the season 2 would be another big hit from Balaji. In fact, they should be happy that an actor is not feeling passionate and he/she is telling them in advance, that would be great for the show. So, I had this feeling that Nakuul and I won’t match or look good onscreen together. I am fine with that thought. I feel someone else who comes on board to play the female lead will do justice to the show and I had conveyed my thought across. I’ve done this personally.”