Ankita Lokhande celebrates 16 years of Pavitra Rishta; remembers late Sushant Singh Rajput, says 'Woh itta acha actor tha aur mujhe sikhaata tha ki aise bol'

Ankita Lokhande remembers Sushant Singh Rajput

In honour of Sushant Singh Rajput, actor Ankita Lokhande recently posted a moving vlog on her YouTube channel, recalling their time together while filming Pavitra Rishta. The heartfelt video was made public as a unique homage to mark 16 years since the cherished television program's debut.

With its June 1, 2009, premiere, Pavitra Rishta played a key role in launching Ankita and the late Sushant Singh Rajput into the public eye and making them well-known throughout India.

In her vlog, Ankita portrayed her series' most famous character, Archana, and visited a number of important set locations. To commemorate the occasion, she also invited veteran actress Usha Nadkarni, her mother, and husband Vicky Jain to her house.

As the video unfolded, Ankita became visibly emotional while recalling Sushant’s support and guidance during the shoot.

She said, “Maine actually jo seekha hain woh Pavitra Rishta se seekha hain. No doubt. Dono aaiyon ne milke. Aur Sushant itna achcha actor tha. Woh mujhe bohot help karta tha kyuki main jab in logon ke saamne jaati thi toh mujhe daar lagne lagta tha. Ki main kaise itne bade-bade scenes karoon. Toh woh mere ko aise sikhata tha ki aise bol, aise bol (Whatever I have learnt about acting is from 'Pavitra Rishta'. I have learnt from the two women and, of course, Sushant was such a good actor. He used to help me a lot when I used to get scared to do these long scenes in front of all these people on set. So he would teach me how I could do better).”

Ankita also thanked Usha Nadkarni for helping to guide her in the beginning of her career. She recalled that despite their initial lack of communication, their relationship deepened as they collaborated. Ankita revealed that she learnt the value of emotional and natural acting from Usha.

From 2009 to 2014, Pavitra Rishta became a household name and is still regarded as one of the most beloved television programs in Indian history. Manav was first played by Sushant, but Hiten Tejwani eventually took over the role.

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Usha Nadkarni most recently appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, and Ankita Lokhande is currently seen on the reality show Laughter Chefs.

On June 14, 2020, Sushant Singh Rajput tragically died at home in Mumbai. Earlier this year, in March, the CBI formally closed the investigation into his death.