I know Sushant is proud of me: Ankita Lokhande

The actor talks about her chemistry with the late star of 'Pavitra Rishta' and the series' second season to be aired soon on ZEE5

Mumbai: The line between real and reel-life was often blurred between Ankita Lokhande and late Sushant Singh Rajput’s characters ‘Archana’ and ‘Manav’ when the TV series ‘Pavitra Rishta’ started airing in 2009. The show went off air in 2014 and leading man Sushant shockingly passed away last year on June 14.

As the new season of the show ‘Pavitra Rishta 2.0’ is all set to release, Ankita, the actor, girlfriend and co-actor of Sushant, says she is trying to keep the memory of Sushant alive through the show and she believes that Sushant must be feeling proud of her.

---

“What our fans saw between ‘Manav’ and ‘Archana’ was love, and love is magical. Perhaps, that is why the chemistry between the two characters looked so magical. When I and Sushant started working for the show, everything was created in a very organic way, you cannot forcefully create magic that the audience saw between me and Sushant. It was love, pure love,” says Ankita.

“When I went back to set for the shooting of the new season of the show, thousands of things are crossing my mind. I have been living with ‘Pavitra Rishta’ and all its memories for the last 12 years. This time, when I went back to set, knowing Sushant is not there with me, it really is hard to explain how I felt. I doubt if anyone would understand what my state of mind is… and I will never be able to explain it in words ever,” she adds.

Ankita, then, broke down in tears. She continues, “But I always think that Sushant is watching all of us, the way we are creating the show and I know Sushant is absolutely proud of me. Sushant created ‘Manav’ and I am trying to keep his legacy alive through the show. Look, nobody can replace Sushant or his presence in ‘Manav’ the way he brought life to that character.”

Elaborating further, she says, “I am sure the chemistry I shared with Sushant, can never be shared with anyone, but we can create another ‘Manav’, right? When Sushant and I started working we did not know how our on-screen ‘jodi’ would be accepted, but it happened. I hope, the same happens in the new season because Shaheer is also a good actor and he is also putting in his hard work.”

The new season of ‘Pavitra Rishta 2.0’ will release on September 15 on ZEE5. In the new season, the character of ‘Manav’ will be played by Shaheer Sheikh.