Exclusive - Ankita Lokhande recalls Pavitra Rishta days: I didn't go home for 3 months, would take shower on sets, sometimes washed and wore same undergarments

Ankita Lokhande, who is best remembered as Archana from Pavitra Rishta, still lives in the audiences' heart as one of their most loved TV bahu. From her performance as Archana to her chemistry with Manav (Sushant Singh Rajput), the actress never missed a chance to wow her audience. Ankita recently joined ETimes TV for an exclusive conversation where she recalled her Pavitra Rishta days and how she shot non-stop for the show. She revealed she did not go home for three months and would take a shower on the sets. She added that once she shot continuously for 148 hours which was her record time. (Photo: Instagram)

It was a very different time. I remember we all had come from different cities to Mumbai and we just wanted to give our best. When I came to Mumbai for Cinestars Ki Khoj, we would stay together. Four girls used to stay in one apartment. Shraddha Arya was one of the contestants with me on the show and it feels so nice that we are doing so great in our careers. That journey was totally different as we all didn’t know anything. We learnt everything on the show be it acting, how to dress up or what not to do. We learnt acting from Kishore Namit Kapoor sir. I will cherish all those memories. (Photo: Instagram)

I had got a call to audition for Pavitra Rishta and I went to give the audition. I did not know anything about the role. I only knew that she is a Maharashtrian girl. I remembered my Dadaji would always say wear a bindi, because of our Marathi culture and during his time, girls would wear saree and bindi from class 10th and he would ask my parents also to make me wear it. So I just recalled it and I wore a black bindi for the audition. The audition did not go that great but I don’t know what was written in my destiny that Ekta Ma’am liked me and in the next 5 days I was finalised and I was doing Pavitra Rishta. (Photo: Instagram)

I have never worked so much in my life ever the amount of work I’ve done on Pavitra Rishta. I remember I did not go home for three months and stayed on the sets shooting day and night. This is the fact. There was a gents washroom on the set which was allotted to me. I would take a shower there and get ready for my shoot. I’d a hairdresser at that point Asmita would help me iron my clothes. (Photo: Instagram)

There were so many times when I’d have no new undergarments and I would wash the old ones and get it ironed and wear them again. I’ve spent those days on the sets but all of it was worth it because I’m what I am because of the hard work I put in. Ussi ki wajah se Aaj main joh kuch bhi hoon woh hoon Yaa Mujhe uss cheez ko value hai is only because of those days. I’ve continuously worked on the sets of Pavitra Rishta for 148 hours and that has been my record timing. I feel proud about it because I’ve something to share about my life experiences. (Photo: Instagram)

My mother would also stay with me. Yes, there was no time to do anything else because I would wake up on the sets of Pavitra Rishta. It was like that and I was not allowed to go home as I was needed for back to back scenes. I was there in almost all the scenes. In television there was a time that the show only revolved around the female protagonist and I was required for all the scenes. The script revolved around me and when you are a newcomer, you can’t just say no. Of course, not just at that time but till the time I was part of Pavitra Rishta I did it with full dedication. (Photo: Instagram)

I never did anything intentionally to fix my working hours, but there was a time in the show when I was doing a double role and at that time I told the production house that I would like to work for only 8 hours. Post that also I used to work for 8 hours continuously as I was doing a double role. The moment I would reach sets I would get into the character of the Daadi and then the young version. (Photo: Instagram)

Not just that I used to make sure to stay back and give cues to the newcomers. Kyunki jis tarike se main cue doongi koi Aur nahi dega… Woh Sirf lines padhega…My intention was always that the scenes should churn out well. I would never allow the production house to use my body double or dupes. They would obviously prefer to get the work done quickly. Also, when you work for so long on a show you reach a point when you start feeling that I should take a little back seat as there are so many new actors, characters added to the show. That’s when after two and half years I told them I would only work for 8 hours. (Photo: Instagram)

Television is a medium which has amazing reach. You leave your house and step outside you will get to know because people will mob you. Not just in the small towns, it happens in Mumbai also which is a nice thing that you get so much love from people. I feel grateful that through Archana I’ve earned so much love. They put their hands on my head to bless me, it is a true love for me. (Photo: Instagram)

Whenever I step out for shoots or other work, I get love and blessings from people. I was surprised when I went to Europe for my honeymoon, people actually stopped me and were showering love on me. I was actually shocked that people till today are watching Pavitra Rishta. In those countries the show is still being telecast. I feel blessed that people have laughed, they cried when Archana-Manav got separated. I feel Pavitra Rishta is a show which will stay forever in the hearts of the viewers and the craze can never stop. When I recently completed 14 years of the show, I told myself no matter where I’m I will be celebrating this milestone every year on June 1st because people are in love with the show. (Photo: Instagram)

When you are a part of the show, you need to be associated with the show completely. I wanted to give my best and look my best on-screen. So in order to do that I would buy my own sarees and I have a collection of sarees. I wear those sarees in real life, I have the salwar kameez also. I keep trying them and checking if I’ve gained weight or I’m still the same. So I’m still the same so there’s no problem actually. (Photo: Instagram)