By News18
Actor Pooja Singh, who is more popular by her stage name Sanvikaa, has quietly yet powerfully made her mark as Rinki in Prime Video鈥檚 hit series Panchayat. During an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, she opened up about her 鈥渦nsaid chemistry鈥 and 鈥済ive and take鈥 relationship with co-star Jitendra Kumar, who plays her love interest Sachiv Ji aka Abhishek Tripathi in the series. Sanvikaa also shared how her personal experiences have shaped her portrayal of Rinki, and why she believes it鈥檚 important to stand up for oneself 鈥 no matter what the situation is.
Talking about her much-discussed on-screen chemistry with Jitendra Kumar, Sanvikaa says it鈥檚 something they never consciously worked on 鈥 and that鈥檚 what makes it click. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a very unsaid chemistry. It鈥檚 a very give and take equation. We don鈥檛 even talk much 鈥 just basic conversations, like 鈥榟ow are you doing鈥. We don鈥檛 rehearse too much, just align on set before a scene, and if something feels off during a take, we adjust then and there. It鈥檚 very organic, not prepared. For me, it just feels naturally okay,鈥 she told us.
She also praised Jitendra as a co-star who made her feel at ease on set despite her being relatively new. 鈥淗e鈥檚 amazing. Very supportive. He never made me feel I was working for the first time or that he has done so much work already. He never dominated, treated me with a lot of respect, and created a calm, supportive environment for me to perform. That鈥檚 why our understanding shows on screen.鈥
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We asked Sanvikaa whether she she relates to Rinki as a person. The actor admitted that she does see glimpses of herself in her character, but there also lies key differences. 鈥淵es, to some extent. I鈥檓 also shy, I don鈥檛 speak much, and I鈥檓 strong-headed. But I鈥檓 more self-driven than Rinki. She鈥檚 still very dependent on her parents, still finding her voice. I, on the other hand, always speak up when something feels wrong 鈥 though people often call it bhagavat (rebellion). But it鈥檚 just my way of saying things. I鈥檓 polite, I give people multiple chances, but if things go too far and I鈥檓 not taken seriously, I can be fierce. I believe you should always address something that鈥檚 wrong, otherwise people will keep walking over you,鈥 she said with quiet determination.
Sanvikaa also shared that while preparing for Rinki, she found herself thinking of her elder sister. 鈥淚 understood from the writers鈥 briefing that Rinki lives in a chaotic world 鈥 her parents are hyper and always fighting 鈥 but she herself is calm, someone who takes a stand for what she feels is right, even against her loved ones. That reminded me of my sister. I鈥檝e seen her all my life and found the character very similar to her. So it was easy to connect and draw inspiration from her 鈥 how she behaves, reacts, stands up for others,鈥 she recalled.
Was she always this person who stands up for herself and others? Sanvikaa reflected on her bygone days, 鈥淪omewhere, yes. Even in college I was like this, but with lesser intensity. Over time, life and experiences taught me to be stronger. Every experience gives you a lesson 鈥 and it鈥檚 a mix of who I am and what I鈥檝e learnt along the way.鈥
In fact, she also advises her friends the same. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e not wrong, and something wrong is being done to you, at least address it. Otherwise people will keep seeing you as someone without a voice, and that pattern will repeat,鈥 she asserted.
Sanvikaa also shared an update on Panchayat 5. She said that writing is already in progress and the show is expected to go on floors by end of November or early nexr year.