Despite half of his face being immobilized with painkillers because of two extremely painful root canals, actor Ashiesh Roy was on cloud nine as he set foot on the Mere Angne Mein set after a gap of almost two months! “I was shooting for a feature film in Shimla, and as such, the makers had to write my character out! Then the show became a half hour show, and I guess they decided that my character was expendable! Meanwhile, I got bitten by a monkey in Shimla and had to rush back as the wound got infected and extremely painful. Then two extremely root canal surgeries had to be performed on my jaw. With no work, and towering pain, it was the lowest phase of my life by far!”

It was his birthday a couple of days back (18 May), and he had actually planned a big bash at one of Andheri’s hot spots for his Mere Angne Mein cast and crew, “But I cancelled it at the last minute, because I really thought no one will show up as I was virtually out of the show, and we all are well aware, given today’s pressures of television, no one really keeps in touch with you if you’re not in the project!”

Imagine his surprise then when he suddenly got a call from the EP of the show that they were planning to shoot with me on 18^th. “My mood immediately perked up as it is always a positive sign to be working on one’s birthday,” stated Ashiesh. But little did he know the big surprise that awaited him on the Mere Angane Mein sets as he arrived. A lovely birthday cake had been ordered and he entire cast and crew was waiting for him. Ashiesh had no clue whatsover of any of this as he got into makeup and was ushered on to the shooting floor.

All pandemonium broke loose once he was inside, and the cast and crew took turns feeding him cake and wishing him. “It was unbelievable! I simply didn’t know what to say! I must have cried all the time, because I remember everything was hazy to my eyes.”

Shikha Vij, the creative head of the show, joked while gobbling the delicious cake, “Ashiesh was feeling pretty much unwanted for all this while, as tracks shifted on the show. So, we all decided to make him feel wanted and appreciated. We decided to bring him back on the show on his birthday! That is a rather cool way to say Welcome Back!” Ashiesh, of course, didn’t agree. “I missed being on the show terribly. It’s by far the most interesting and complex role of my 30 year career, and I have been enjoying playing Ashok thoroughly. Am really glad to be back and I have been promised an amazing track in the coming months!”, informed Ashiesh.

Well,we all wish this talented actor all the best, and wish him a very Happy Birthday.