Rupali Ganguly has often spoken about the depth of relationships explored in her TV show Anupamaa produced by Deepa and Rajan Shahi, which is produced by mother-son duo Deepa Shahi and Rajan Shahi under their banner Shahi Productions Pvt Ltd, but what makes the show even more special to her is the way friendship has been portrayed through the bond between Anupamaa and Devika. The actress spoke in reference to the recent sequence that highlighted the no-complaint, no-expectation, and no-demand friendship that her character shared with Devika, played by Jaswir Kaur.
“The sequence was created by our maker, Rajanji, and written beautifully by the writers, and executed by the directors. We were just actors, mere puppets, who were doing our job. And there are certain scenes like this that completely warm the cockles of our hearts, because friendship is something that is the most viable, it’s a very honest feeling,” she said.
Talking about the on-screen bond, she added, “And Devika and Anupama’s friendship in our show has been the epitome of friendship. Devika has been that one friend, the Krishna to Anupamaa’s Sudama, who’s always been there in the time of need for Anupamaa. And Devika is coming back into Anupamaa’s life right now, because I would say for myself that I feel the character so closely when I’m on the sets, and I’m sure that Jassi also does. It was just a bonding reunion of sorts for us again, and I was so glad to have this back. I think the inspiration for this was Krishna and Sudama.”
Reflecting on the rarity of such portrayals, she said, “It’s very rare that friendships like this are highlighted. Yes, there have been many movies like Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara and Dil Chahta Hai; there have been some very beautiful movies based on friendship in the past. But on television, it’s very rare to see a bond as beautiful as Anupama and Devika’s, which has lasted over five years and which has so much relevance. I mean, Devika is not just a character that is there for the sake of it. But it propels the story forward; it adds so much value to Anupama’s narrative. And it’s very beautiful.”
For Rupali, the importance of this bond is undeniable. “It’s extremely important for Anupama to bring this to the forefront, because Anupama is a show that is, if I may say so, a part of literally every household in India. And yes, we do give a lot of importance to family values and family relationships and relationships in general here in the show. But friendship is a bond that also needs to be brought to the forefront, because that is the bond that is not connected by blood but by heart. And it is a beautiful bond. And even in our Shastras and other places, friendship has been of great importance. When Anupama brings a bond like this to the forefront, it becomes even more assertive, even more viable in today’s age,” she said.
On a personal note, Rupali shared how she relates to the emotion. “For me, friendship is the most important. Again, my husband was my best friend before he became my husband. My brother is my best friend today. I do not have lots of friends, but there are a few who are very close to me. No matter what, I know they will always be there. There is Mona, there is Delnaaz, and there is my sister Rita. Plus I have formed certain more bonds over the years. It’s just to have great girl power in your life,” she added.
Summing up the essence of relationships in Anupamaa, she said, “Every relationship at the end of the day becomes friendship Bapuji and Anupamaa’s relationship or Samar and Anupamaa’s relationship. Even though the principal relationship was different, at the end of it, it all boils down to friendship. Even now when you see Ba oiling Anupamaa’s head or Anupamaa massaging Ba’s feet, it’s more like they’re in the friend zone than anything else. After a point, every mother becomes friends with her children. Father becomes friends with his children. Husband and wife become friends. There are relationships where the underlining emotion of friendship is that of love.”
“I’m glad that friendship has been given such a beautiful platform in our show, and I’m proud of the fact that the makers are adept at exploring rarely explored bonds in our show. It just feels very good about this. And I just hope Devika remains, and I’m looking forward to this beautiful journey ahead of Anupamaa and Devika at this age and stage of their lives,” Rupali ended.
Unsung bollywood 