Raakh To Pritam & Pedro: Actor Naina Sareen On Playing Two Contrasting Characters In Back-to-back OTT Releases

The FTII-trained actor opens up about portraying Deena in Ali Fazal-starrer Raakh, collaborating with Rajkumar Hirani Films, and showcasing her versatility through two vastly different roles. If you've watched Raakh, chances are Deena stayed with you long after the episode ended.

In Prosit Roy's Amazon Prime Video crime drama Raakh, actor Naina Sareen portrays Deena, a Parsi woman whose life takes a devastating turn after a traumatic encounter involving Babu, played by Aakash Makhija. The series, starring Ali Fazal, revisits the infamous 1978 Ranga-Billa case, one of the most talked-about criminal cases in India's history, while exploring the emotional impact of a crime that changed the lives of everyone connected to it.

For Naina, playing Deena was not just about portraying a difficult situation-it was about understanding the emotional world of a woman navigating fear, vulnerability and trauma. Her performance has drawn attention for the restraint and sensitivity with which she approached one of the series' most emotionally challenging characters.

Speaking about preparing for the role, Naina says,
"For me, preparation always begins with understanding the emotional life of the character rather than trying to perform. I spent time asking who she was before the story began, what she carried within, what she feared and what she longed for. Once those questions started finding answers, I worked on my body language and the silences until it started to feel organic."

One of the key aspects of bringing Deena to life was getting the nuances of her speech right. Naina underwent dialect training to understand the Parsi accent and ensure authenticity in her portrayal.

"It wasn't just about the pronunciation but also the nuances of the way she speaks so it felt authentic."

Talking about one of the most emotionally intense sequences in Raakh, Naina explains that her preparation focused on understanding the psychological impact on the character rather than simply portraying the incident.

"Preparing for it wasn't about trying to imagine the violence but understanding the emotional and psychological impact on the character. I spent time discussing it with my director, my co-actor and my intimacy coach, and we were all on the same page about approaching it with a clear purpose."

While Raakh showcased Naina in an intense and emotionally layered role, her next release presented an entirely different side of her craft.

In Rajkumar Hirani Films' Pritam and Pedro, streaming on JioHotstar, Naina plays Sherlyn, a young officer in the Cyber Crime Cell opposite Arshad Warsi. Unlike Deena's emotionally heavy journey, Sherlyn is a character filled with optimism, sincerity and warmth, allowing Naina to explore a lighter and more humorous space.

Speaking about the experience of working with Rajkumar Hirani, Arshad Warsi and director Avinash Arun, Naina says,

"Working with Arshad Warsi sir, Rajkumar Hirani sir and Avinash Arun sir was an unforgettable experience. Being on that set felt like a masterclass-not just in acting, but in comic timing, discipline and storytelling."

Sharing her experience of working with Rajkumar Hirani, she adds,"He has an extraordinary ability to find emotional truth in a scene, no matter how simple it may seem. His attention to detail, clarity of vision and deep understanding of human emotion make him a remarkable storyteller. Being directed by somebody like him was an incredibly humbling experience."

An FTII graduate, Naina Sareen has built a diverse body of work across films and OTT platforms. Her previous projects include Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper, where she played Ashoklata Mishra opposite Manav Kaul, along with acclaimed projects such as Made in Heaven, Trial by Fire, Mithya, Hotel Mumbai, and the internationally acclaimed film Eeb Allay Ooo!

From playing Deena, a woman facing unimaginable circumstances in Raakh, to portraying Sherlyn, a confident and optimistic cyber officer in Pritam and Pedro, Naina's recent projects highlight her ability to move effortlessly between emotionally demanding and lighter characters.

Reflecting on this phase of her career, Naina says,
"I certainly hope so. I've given acting a lot of hard work ever since I decided I wanted this career. I have never wanted anything more than this. Regardless of the outcome, my journey as an actor is not going to be determined by popularity. It will always be determined by the authenticity and honesty that my work carries through in every project."

With back-to-back OTT releases showcasing two completely different shades of her acting, Naina Sareen continues to build a body of work defined by variety and strong character choices. From intense dramas to lighter narratives, her performances reflect an actor willing to explore different emotional landscapes and take on roles that challenge her creatively.