Ekta Labde will be seen playing the important role of Sharada in the television series Krishnaichya Leki. Known for winning audiences’ hearts with her natural acting and innocent personality, Ekta has already created a distinct identity for herself through several memorable roles. In this series, Sharada is a sensible, responsible young woman who often puts her own feelings aside for the sake of her family. Through this role, Ekta will be seen in a completely new avatar.
Speaking about her character, Ekta said, “My character’s name is Sharada. She is calm, quiet, and reserved. She keeps her feelings to herself and is very understanding. To play Sharada, I have had to make many adjustments because her personality is very different from mine. Sharada is like Krishnai’s shadow. She also has to care for her two sisters just like a mother would. My previous role was that of a loving character, so that experience is helping me play this role. I am trying to bring a little of Krishnai’s nature into Sharada as well.I received a call for this role and auditioned in Thane. The makers were looking for someone who appeared loving, polite, simple, beautiful, and sensible. I’m happy that they felt I was the right fit for Sharada. When I learned that I had been selected to play Krishnai’s daughter in Krishnai Chya Leki, I was overjoyed.”
Ekta further shared, “After many months, I was facing the camera again. The first day of shooting was wonderful. Acting is my passion. I feel fortunate to have work today because very few people get such opportunities. I was a little nervous on the first day because I had to speak in the Kolhapur dialect for this role, whereas my previous role required a different style of speech. Since I am originally from the Konkan region, I had to work on the language. I often observe local people to learn. My only concern was whether I was speaking correctly. However, everyone on set—the actors and the director—has been amazing. They explain everything patiently and are very supportive.”
Talking about shooting outside Mumbai, she said, “For me, shooting outside Mumbai is difficult because it means staying away from my family. But the initial shooting took place in Satara, and fortunately, my team is wonderful. Our production house is very supportive, and my co-actors are fantastic. Because of that, living outside Mumbai for the shoot felt much easier. I’ve developed a great bond with Narayani and Twinkle in a very short time. Narayani and I already knew each other. The three of us behave like real sisters even on set. Nivedita Tai understands us very well. On my first day, I was worried that I might cause retakes, but everyone was very understanding. Since we are all staying together away from Mumbai, we have become a very close-knit team.”
Speaking about working with veteran actor Nivedita Saraf, Ekta said, “When I found out that Nivedita Tai would be playing Krishnai, I was overwhelmed with happiness. Nivedita Saraf, Ashwini Bhave, and Alka Kubal are among my favorite legendary Marathi actresses. In Marathi cinema, Nivedita Tai is my favorite actress, and in Hindi cinema, it is Neetu Singh. I grew up watching their films. Their performances inspired me to pursue acting. Nivedita Tai is a wonderful person. I have explored Satara with her. One day when we had a break from shooting, we went out together, shopped, and spent quality time together. Even after achieving so much success, she remains humble, understanding, and loving. That is truly something to learn from her. While playing Sharada, I am going to learn a lot from Nivedita Tai. Since we are staying away from our families, she takes care of us just like a mother.”
Talking about the show, Ekta said, “Krishnaichya Leki is the story of women and girls who overcome hardships and sorrows and continue moving forward with determination. Krishnai’s three daughters are very special. One is fearless, one is a sportsperson, and one is highly responsible and takes care of her mother and sisters. Audiences are definitely going to enjoy watching their journey.”
