Ekta Tiwari, who is seen in the show Gudiya Rani, says playing a character quite in contrast to her in real life is interesting

Ekta Tiwari, who is currently essaying the role of Flower in Gudiya Rani on Dangal TV, is enjoying the positive feedback that she is receiving. Known for shows like Tere Mere Sapne, Ganesh Leela, Paramavtar Shri Krishna, Diya Aur Baati Hum, among others, she shares excerpts from her journey so far.

How has the response for your character in Gudiya Rani been?

The love and support I’ve been receiving has been overwhelming. It’s been truly heartwarming! I want to give a special shout-out to my friend and casting director Ashutosh Rai, and writer Bhavna Vyas for their beautiful writing and vision for Flower. I’m excited for what is coming up and I can’t wait for the audience to see her in action.

What has been the most challenging part of portraying this role?

Every new character comes with its own set of challenges and I thrive on that. With Flower, it’s her bold appearance — her flashy attire, heavy accessories and intricate hairdos, which sometimes give me a headache! Her loud, dramatic behaviour, combined with a mix of Hindi and English, also adds to the challenge.

How do you prepare mentally and emotionally for playing an antagonist?

Whether it’s an antagonist or protagonist, intensity isn’t based on the character type, but on their journey and the situations they face. When you deeply discuss a character’s traits with the writer and director, everything falls into place. I immerse myself mentally and emotionally through various techniques.

Your character seems quite different from your real personality. How do you navigate that contrast?

Opposites attract, right? That doesn’t just apply to real-life relationships but also to characters on screen. In real life, I’m more of a ‘simple living, high thinking’ person, while Flower is flambouyant, carefree and doesn’t worry much. That contrast is what drew me to the role.

How do you handle criticism?

I take it very positively. I try to let go of things that don’t make sense to me, but I’ll admit it’s not always easy. Sometimes, feedback can linger in your mind and heart, creating an ache. With time, though, it fades away, even if it leaves a little hole behind. But that’s part of the process. Constructive criticism helps me refine my craft and grow as an actor.

What is your success mantra?

Homework and revision are the keys. Whether you’re an artiste, writer, director or cinematographer, continuous improvement requires constant work on yourself. It’s about reading, writing, watching both old and new content, and creating. You take inspiration from everything around and implement it mentally, physically and with freedom. The important part is not to copy or be bound by influences. You need to keep growing and evolving, no matter what field you’re in.

(As told to Dharam Pal)