By: Shelbin MS
Talented actress Niyati Fatnani made an accomplished debut in TV drama D4 – Get Up and Dance in 2016, and then shot to fame playing Piya Rathod in popular supernatural 2018 serial Nazar, which ran for more than 400 episodes across two years.
That impressive momentum is continuing with recently launched Star Bharat serial Channa Mereya. She portrays Ginni Garewal and stars opposite popular actor Karan Wahi in a series that’s proving to be well-received on Star Bharat.
In a candid chat with Eastern Eye, the actress spoke about her love for acting, star-making serial Nazar, pressure of playing a lead protagonist, and Channa Mereya. She also revealed a secret about herself.
When I was a child, I saw a dance number on TV, which instantly made me say I wanted to become an actor. I guess that’s when the acting bug bit me; at an age when I had no clue whether I would be able to fulfil my dream. I think I prayed too hard to accomplish my dream and here I am today living various characters and their journeys.
Nazar was a big turning point in my career, hands down. I learnt a lot about the supernatural genre, my craft, and executing new things on screen. Not to forget, it connected me with audiences across the globe.
It was beyond amazing. I got an opportunity to work with a great team and had a wonderful experience shooting for it. Safe to say that the show made me a much better performer.
Channa Mereya is a love story between two people who are poles apart in their belief systems and everything else but are connected by food. That’s something common between them. I play Ginni, who runs a dhaba, and Karan’s character Aditya is a chef.
As Ginni, I get to explore various shades. It is real and natural just like any other girl, which is what attracted me to take it up. Unlike my previous roles, Ginni has more gravitas plus the story also has a lot of drama.
It certainly translates into a lot of pressure. However, it also makes me feel responsible and doesn’t let me become complacent. I love to be on my toes. I should have butterflies in my stomach every time I face the camera. I want to feel alive as an artist.
Karan is a gem of a co-actor and a pleasure to work with. He is extremely humble and more importantly, exudes a positive vibe to work around.
Yes, of course, that is in my plans.
I make every character I am offered a dream role because all I aspire to is to play it with utmost conviction and make the audience resonate with it. So, I don’t have a specific dream role.
Though I am a public figure, I am a very private person. I am an introvert and don’t like talking about my personal life in public. You won’t see me strike a conversation with a stranger. That’s just not me. I take my time to befriend people but when I do, I stand by them like a rock.
I like to watch Marvel movies or something that has nothing to do with the world. I just love watching good content, be it on the web space, YouTube, or cinemas.
Never say never. I follow it to the T because I know that life happens when you are busy making plans.
I seek inspiration from my surroundings. It can be a piece of advice from someone wise, an enlightening interview or a play.
Instagram: @niyatifatnani