Raavee Gupta, who was last seen in Naagin 5 as an antagonist, is currently seen in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi season 2. She was also part of the first season of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Sharing more on her recent role Raavee says, “I was a part of the first season of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Returning to the show after all these years has been a special experience because it feels like coming back to something that has always been close to me. When I first played Damini, she was full of anger. She was angry because life had been unfair to her. Now, she’s much more grounded. She’s a mother with a grown-up son, and life has shaped her in many ways. I must confess I relate to her because, just like my character, I’ve also grown over the years. We’re at similar stages in life, both with older children. However, I differ from Damini in one important way. I feel she’s more submissive. I wouldn’t call her traditional, but she is definitely more submissive than I am. I’m much feistier. At the same time, we share a playful side.” She adds, ”Damini has a sense of humour, and that’s very much how I am in real life too. I enjoy joking around and keeping the atmosphere light, so that’s where I connect with her the most.”
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has always received immense love from the audience. So did she imagine that her character and the show would get so much love and success? On this the pretty actress says, ”I don’t think I’m going to say I knew it would happen. But of course, one always hopes. I had been part of the show years ago, and I had received a lot of love for the character then as well. Naturally, I hoped audiences would accept me again after such a long gap, especially since the role had been played by another actor in between. I knew comparisons were inevitable. Even though I’m extremely confident in my abilities as an actor, those thoughts do cross your mind. I’m incredibly grateful to Ekta Kapoor for giving me the opportunity to reprise this role, and I’m thankful for the way everything has turned out.”
Raavee who has been part of the industry for long shares her take on the evolution of Indian television. She says, ”The industry has evolved in many positive ways. It’s become much more organised, and there are greater opportunities for growth. One thing I truly appreciate is that the working hours are no longer as hectic and unpredictable as they used to be. The overall work environment has become much more structured, which benefits everyone involved.”
So who do you bond with the most on the set of Kyunki? Raavee says, ”I spend the most time with the actors who play my immediate family—Daksh, who plays Nakul, and Sumit, who plays Gautam. We share a very fun and light-hearted camaraderie. I get along with everyone on set, but naturally, since I spend the most time with them, we’ve become especially close. There’s also Ritu, Kamal, Komalika and, of course, Smriti ji. Since many of us have been associated with the show for a long time, there’s a wonderful comfort level. The set is filled with warmth, positivity and laughter, making it a genuinely happy place to work. One funny incident happened during the initial days of the shoot. My name is Raavee, and the actor who had played Damini earlier was also named Riva. Someone accidentally called me by the previous actor’s name. They apologised immediately, and it was a completely genuine mistake. We all had a good laugh about it.”
Raavee adds, ”I absolutely love working with Smriti ji. There’s so much to learn from her. Despite her stature and experience, she never carries that aura onto the set. She’s an actor first and foremost. She’s incredibly generous, supportive and genuinely invested in making every scene and performance better. Whenever she shares her inputs, I truly value them because they always come from a place of wanting the best for everyone. She’s like that with the entire cast, and I think she’s a remarkable person. Working in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi after so many years has been a deeply fulfilling experience. The love the show continues to receive is overwhelming, and I’m grateful to be a part of this journey once again. The warmth on set, the audience’s affection and the opportunity to revisit such an iconic character make this experience truly special.”
