When Prakriti Nautiyal, known for shows like Barrister Babu and Naamkarann, joined Shehzaadi… Hai Tu Dil Ki, she had high expectations from the project. The official Hindi remake of the Telugu series Karthik Deepam, which launched in December, was abruptly taken off air in March due to low ratings.
Speaking about the sudden shutdown, she says, “It takes time to get into the skin of a character, and in this case, we had to follow the original very closely, almost frame by frame, which made the process even more demanding. Just when we found our rhythm, we were told the show was shutting down. It was disappointing and heartbreaking.”
The format also came with its own set of creative challenges. “We had suggested that we be allowed to interpret the characters in our own way, but we were required to closely replicate what had already been done in the original. While I took it up as a challenge and did enjoy certain aspects, it wasn’t always creatively fulfilling. At times, it felt like mimicry, which is not something I am particularly good at,” she says with a laugh.
Addressing the growing uncertainty in the television industry, where many shows end within a few months, she says, “Work has become increasingly unpredictable as shows are no longer running long-term. Earlier, projects would continue indefinitely, offering emotional, financial, and mental stability. Now, that sense of security is missing, and the market feels extremely unstable. There is constant pressure for a show to perform from the moment it goes on air, and actors have very little control if it is pulled off. That is followed by the stress of securing another project, especially since payments typically begin only three months after a show’s launch.”
For now, she is focusing on what lies ahead. “I have started auditioning again. Nothing has been finalised yet, but I am hopeful of finding something meaningful soon,” she says.
