When Parineeta Borthakur was offered the role of Chandrika Singh Chauhan in Vasudha, her first concern wasn’t about the script, it was about respect.
She only agreed to take on the role after confirming that Nausheen Ali Sardar’s exit was amicable and everyone involved was on the same page.
Parineeta Borthakur is an actress who values not just performance, but principles. So, when she found herself stepping into an existing role in the show Vasudha, the first thing she needed to be sure of was that it wasn’t a replacement done behind someone’s back.
I Was Actually A Little Apprehensive About Taking On This Role
Nausheen Ali Sardar, who originally played Chandrika Singh Chauhan, had exited the show in July due to creative differences.
Parineeta, known for her roles in Swaragini, Bepannah, and Gupta Brothers, shares her initial apprehension about joining midway. “Joining a show partway through and inheriting a character is something I hadn’t experienced until now. I was actually a little apprehensive about taking on this role,” she admits.
Interestingly, when she was first approached, she wasn’t even told which show it was for. “Initially, when Arvind Babbal sir approached me for the role, he didn’t tell me which show and which character. He just said, ‘It’s a very nice character and you have to do it.’ He was very confident and felt I could do it. So, I said yes. We all know Arvind sir, he’s a senior person,” she recalls.
It was only the day before her look test that Parineeta was informed she’d been finalised for the role of Chandrika Singh Chauhan in Vasudha. And her immediate reaction was one of ethical concern.
“My first question was does the previous actor know about it, and was she okay with the fact that I would be playing that character? I didn’t want any negativity to follow or anybody’s baddua ki mera character le liya,” she says with disarming honesty, adding, “Sir told me it was a mutual decision and that they had parted ways respectfully. That was enough for me.”
I Do Get A Lot Of Appreciation Posts, Comments And Messages Now
Once on board, Parineeta Borthakur threw herself into preparation, watching early and recent episodes to understand the character’s arc. But another hurdle remained, audience acceptance.
She says, “When I took on the role, the initial challenge I thought would be about keeping up with the benchmark Nausheen had already set. My job was to maintain that and do as much justice to it as I could. I tried, and I think I am doing pretty well.”
Still, she couldn’t help but worry about how viewers would respond to the change. She admits, “I told sir, I will try to do my best, but when somebody is used to watching an actor portray a particular character for almost a year, they relate to that person as the character. So, I was a little worried whether the audience would accept me or not.”
Unsurprisingly, the initial response was mixed. “There was a section that showed restraint in accepting a new face, which is very natural. But slowly, people started appreciating my efforts. I do get a lot of appreciation posts, comments and messages now,” she says with a smile.
Parineeta Borthakur also worked on finding a delicate balance between honouring the performance of her predecessor and bringing her own interpretation to the role. “I was told to retain the style of the previous actress and I tried to copy some signature poses of hers. But at the same time, we all decided that slowly, slowly I will do it the way I would have if I had played this character from the beginning,” she explains.
“To match the character’s intensity early on, I deliberately gave my voice a rougher, more assertive quality. But now, I’m speaking the way I naturally would have if this had been my character from day one,” she adds.
With grace and grounding, Parineeta Borthakur has managed not just to step into someone else’s shoes, but to walk a path that’s entirely her own.
