MUMBAI: Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has become the longest-running show on TV right now. Abhimanyu and Akshara are winning hearts with their love.

Also read: LOVE IS IN THE AIR! AbhiRa's love story to take a new turn in StarPlus' Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai

In a candid conversation with Mahima aka Pragati Mehra, the actress had some really interesting stories to reveal about her character, bagging Yeh Rishta and more. 

What made you take up such an interesting role in Yeh Rishta?

When Rajan Ji called me and he called me himself, he had not told me about the show, he only mentioned the character brief that I have a character for you and trust me this would be one of the best roles. The sheer fact that he called me was enough for me to agree. I was waiting to work with him for a long time. The last show I did was Bidaai and now I am here with Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Whenever I used to meet him, I used to tease him about it and yes it did take 14 years from Bidaai to Yeh Rishta. When I signed the contract, I came to know that I was joining Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. It was a surprise to me too. 

Aarohi and Mahima are quite similar, this would surely be a battleground for both of them in the upcoming track? 

That's exactly what I think can turn out to be, but daily soaps keep changing from week to week. Yes, there is one thread that joins both generations with two sisters. Akshara is giving, always about others and caring wherein Aarohi is totally about herself. The same way Manjari is bothered about everyone except herself and Mahima is all about I, me, myself. The battleground is surely going to happen as there are two people with like minds and goals. The power struggle will play around.

On the contrary despite, Aarohi and Mahima being similar. I have been receiving support as they feel that Mahima hates Aarohi, so the audience loves Mahima. If she wouldn't have wanted Akshara to be a part of the family they would surely hate me as well. The situation is like an enemy's enemy is your friend. 

Earlier in Television, we haven't seen women portray such strong characters

Yes, that I agree. Television has not seen such characters. If you had career-oriented women, they had a black shade to it. She was portrayed as money-minded or power-oriented. Mahima here takes a stand even for her daughter in law when she was forced to keep Family above her career. The rest of the family expects the woman choosing to be present for family functions to keep her career at stake. That way, Mahima believes in Women Empowerment and the quality that there is equality. There are these small nuances where Mahima is seen sitting with the men considering herself equal to the man. If you see the other ladies in the show, you would see them standing in such scenes. These minute gestures are symbolic. There is this thought behind characters that women are supposed to be nurturing and caring, but Mahima breaks that makes the viewers also see the other side of today's women. 

Also read: EXCLUSIVE! Preyal Shah ENTERS StarPlus' Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai

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