Sairaab Cast | Kishori Shahane On Playing Indrani In Star Plus Show: The Directness Of Bengali Women...

Veteran actress Kishori Shahane, who plays the formidable Indrani in the new romantic-drama Sairaab, says it was the script and the team that drew her to the role. The show stars Madirakshi Mundle as Dr. Nayanika Roy and Rohit Chandel as Rockstar Ishan.

On choosing Sairaab, "There are two reasons behind me choosing this role," Shahane said. "First, the production house. I know them, I've worked with them before, and they are very trustworthy. And the other reason is Leena Gangopadhyay ji. She's the writer and producer. She worked on Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin as well, and I really admire her writing. So that's why I said yes."

The actress, known for her strong matriarchal portrayals, was also pulled in by the cultural depth of Indrani. "As for the character, she's Bengali. A strong woman of the house. The culture, the customs, the directness of Bengali women, all of that really attracted me," she shared. "People are already loving the 'Haye Gopal' dialogue. For me, every new character has to be strong, and it's about how that character comes across in the story. I was really happy when I heard the script. Being a strong character, she has that kind of space. And I like that about this kind of character."

With a career spanning films, web series, TV serials, stage, and ads, Shahane says her motivation is simple. "What excites me? Work. I love to work. Every day when I get up and I know I have work in my hand, I'm the happiest," she said. "Whatever condition mentally, I have to be happy. I am happy that I have work. And to prepare, I forget all my past experience for a new role. I work on the character like a newcomer. I just forget my previous characters and I begin the new character with a fresh start. I love that fresh thinking. Freshness in the character. New unit, new people around. That all really excites me."

On why Sairaab feels different. Shahane believes the show taps into stories rarely seen on television. "As far as new stories are concerned, I feel Sairaab is really going to work because it has a very different story that is hardly explored on television," she explained. "It's so relatable to young boys. They know these kinds of emotions and these characters represent them. My character represents all of the strong opponents of these kinds of situations. But that is the interesting part of the story. I think every show that's doing well is exploring new avenues of human characteristics. I think it's worth doing and I enjoy doing it."

Kishori Shahane is a prominent Indian classical and folk dancer, actress, and filmmaker who works extensively across Marathi and Hindi cinema and television. With a career spanning several decades, she has appeared in over 130 Marathi films and 50 Hindi films and web series, achieving widespread recognition for her powerful portrayals of matriarchal figures in major television serials.