Exclusive - During Kumkum Bhagya, I would never feel the urge to go to the shoot: Naina Singh on quitting the successful show

Kumkum Bhagya's Naina Singh left fans in shock by announcing her decision to quit the show. As ETimes TV connected with the actress for a live chat recently, she explained in detail her decision to leave the show, that too during the lockdown. In an exclusive conversation, Naina spoke her heart out and shared what she has been going through while playing the role of Rhea Mehra, how TV happened to her and more. (By: Sukarna Mondal)

I had decided to leave Kumkum Bhagya in August 2019. But you have to give six-months' notice. I initially didn’t know that Rhea’s character is going to be negative. I didn’t know the whole story. Gradually, I realised that this is something I don’t want to do. I was previously offered a web series with the production house, but I wasn’t comfortable with a few scenes. It was then I was offered Kumkum Bhagya. I didn’t want to do TV also. But I couldn’t keep refusing them else they would think ‘She doesn’t want to do this, doesn’t want to do that’. Later, when I got to know how Rhea’s character is moulding, I didn’t like it. The space I have come from, my fan base is very young. I am portraying something which I am not satisfied with. Rhea would do something which a regular college going girl would never do. Mixing drugs, making videos, killing somebody – I just couldn’t relate. I used to feel so bad after coming home and seeing myself on TV. I thought maybe later they will add some layer to Rhea’s character and show her positive side but I just couldn’t see nice.

This is a career that I should be happy with. Every morning, going to the sets should excite me. My parents supported me. During Kumkum Bhagya, I would never feel the urge to go to the shoot. Because I was doing something I didn’t like. And I couldn’t do this to myself. It was a tough call. People have been telling me that Kumkum is number 1 show, and people die to get a show like this or even Balaji. I am hard to satisfy and a craver. I need something new and strong. After a while, I just couldn’t take Rhea.

My exit happened abruptly. I was supposed to leave the show in January but they requested me to stay for a bit longer. Hence, it got extended to March. In between, I got other project and had to start shooting for that as well. I don’t know how they are going to show my exit.

When I was thinking of leaving the show, I was very dicey. I would ask my mom about what to do. I didn’t want to get into bad terms with Balaji also. I would come home and cry and my mom would get irritated. She told me to make my mind strong.

We are a family. I was very close to Shabir, Sriti and Ashlesha. Shabir told me that if there is something better then I should think about it. But nobody wanted me to leave the show and they were disheartened. Forget Rhea, me being Naina there was so much fun. I requested the makers to change my track. It was very monotonous. But I couldn’t keep on waiting. There were international offers too and I couldn’t take them up. It was getting frustrating for me.

After Splitsvilla, I did India’s Next Superstar. After Splitsvilla, I realised I can’t stay in a villa at a stretch for such a long period. It was only after signing INS, I got to know that I have to stay there for 3 months. The show however, didn’t work how it was supposed to work. Though it had major people like Mahesh Bhatt, Rohit Shetty, Karan Johar, Mukesh Chhabra, it didn’t work. I thought after this, we’ll get noticed for movies and won’t have to do TV. I was told that I am not ‘TV material’ as I don’t look like a bahu. After that show I was at home for quite sometime. Before Splitsvilla I was working as a casting director and I couldn’t sit at home.

Earlier it would just be a kiss. Then it changed to a love-making scene and nowadays, there are just sexual scenes on web. I am not ok with that. I am not comfortable doing that. Maybe, I will take time. When I was thinking of making a career in acting and coming to Mumbai, I told my mom that I won’t do kissing scenes. My mom reacted, “Then you better sit at home. Who are you? When all the celebrities (the big names) are kissing on-screen, who are you to say no.” So, I think I am now comfortable doing kissing scenes. But I don’t know about bed-scenes. I had rejected two shows on digital medium because of this.

No, not anymore. If a TV show’s life is for 2 years, for 2 years I have to live that negative character for 12hrs everyday. I can’t do that. In films, it’s a matter of few months. Actors, who do negative roles have their own choices but I can’t do that.