Ashlesha Sawant and Sumeet Sachdev reunite after 23 yrs

Sumeet Sachdev and Ashlesha Sawant, who played a couple in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2002), are reuniting after 23 years — this time in the show Jhanak. While it’s been over two decades since they last worked together, Sumeet and Ashlesha say it doesn’t feel like a long gap, as their friendship has remained intact over the years.

Ashlesha says, “Sumeet is still the same — a thorough gentleman who speaks like a British English professor, using these big, fancy words. Back in Kyunki..., he would tease me with his vocabulary, assuming I wouldn’t understand (laughs).”

Sumeet shares, “As a professional Scrabble player, big words are second nature to me. That’s where our little inside joke began — and clearly, it’s still going strong! We had great chemistry in Kyunki... and now in Jhanak, we play a divorced couple bound by their grown-up daughter, so it’s a very layered and interesting dynamic.”

In Jhanak now post the leap, Sumeet takes over the role of Aniruddh, previously played by Krushal Ahuja, while Ashlesha steps in as Arshi, a role earlier portrayed by Chandni Sharma. Riya Sharma and Arjit Taneja are playing the lead roles now after the leap. In the current track, Arjit's character has reached Jhanak's (Riya Sharma) village and he is bullied by villagers because Jhanak had to spend the night with him at his guest house due to rains and she could not go home. The villagers now want him to get married to Jhanak and take her to Kolkata. Jhanak's life is in danger and she tries to fight the situation.