New Delhi, June 6 : Shikha Swaroop, who became a household name after playing the title role in the mega serial 'Chandrakanta' in the mid nineties, says she never thought that the show will make a comeback on the small screen.
Titled 'Kahani Chandrakanta Ki', will see the lissome beauty play Chandrakanta, happily married to Virendra Singh of Naugarh and Swaroop says that she couldn't believe her ears when she got the offer from the director, Sunil Agnihotri.
"It was a pleasant surprise for me. No one knew that 'Chandrakanta' will be back, not even me. Not in my wildest dream did I ever think that the serial will make a comeback and I will play the same role," Swaroop told PTI.
The actress says that although it sounds and looks the same as the original, there is hardly any similarity except for the characters.
"Its a pleasure to be back. I am the same Chandrakanta but a little more glamorous and the story is all fresh and new. It is a love story between my son and Shivdutt's daughter. It is starting from where the original left and then the story takes a leap of several years," Swaroop said.
Asked if she had any second thoughts playing an older Chandrakanta because of the generation leap, she said, "I was not apprehensive about playing an older role this time. It is a role of a lifetime and I feel privileged to be asked to reprise it."
Swaroop took a decade break from the industry and said that it was only Sunil Agnihotri (director) and 'Chandrakanta' that changed her mind.
"I drew out of television. I just got tired of working. I didn't want to do the same stuff anymore hence the long break.
"But when this offer came my way, I just couldn't say no. Working with Sunil is always a pleasure becuse we have known each other for about 15 years now," said Swaroop, who was recently in the capital for the launch of the serial.
The former Miss India also said that shooting for the serial was a 'deja vu' for her because nothing seemed to have changed.
"When I was shooting, it was like a deja vu. I never felt for even once that the show was returning after 15 years.
I forgot that it has been so long. Except for some actors, everything is almost the same, the director, the producer and even the production managers," Swaroop said. PTI
