‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’ Actor Aditi Sharma On How Son Ye-jin’s Work In The Original Motivated Her (EXCLUSIVE)

“Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar,” the Indian adaptation of Korean drama “Something in the Rain” is finally on air. For actress Aditi Sharma, this is the second time she is working in the Indianized version of a globally recognized show. The first one was “Katha Ankahee,” a remake of the Turkish blockbuster, “1001 Nights.” In a chat with Variety India, Sharma talks about her latest work, co-star Daksh Puri and love for Korean dramas in India. 

Initial response to ‘SYHP’ 
Sharma shares she is thrilled to see that Gen-Z is liking the show. She says, “The basic premise is that of ‘Something in the Rain’ but the flavor is totally Indian. I am glad that the platform is dropping all five episodes at a go on Mondays. This is great for those who love to binge-watch.”

Son Ye-jin’s inspiring performance 
The actress reveals she avoided watching “Something in the Rain” for the longest time as she did not wish to be subconsciously influenced by Son Ye-jin’s performance. She states, “A creative told me that I should just give it a watch as a viewer. I loved the simplicity of ‘Something in the Rain,’ and found the drama beautiful. I felt a bit worried thinking about how we could recreate the simplicity and beauty, which makes it such an addictive and emotional watch. Honestly, I did not feel any pressure to live up to the standard set by Son Ye-jin. As an actor, it was inspiring to see her nuanced performance. It motivated me to do better.” 

She adds, “As an actor, I am always on the look out for relatable characters. Whether it was my show, “Gangaa” (2015) or “SYHP,” I can resonate with these female protagonists. They are flawed, layered and going through emotional conflicts. You might not agree with them but can identify with their issues.”

Sharma has worked across films, TV, web series and theater. “I love it when I get work organically. I remember I got my first Punjabi movie after a director saw me in a play. There is a theatrical production I am excited to be a part of. I hope I can do it when I have two or three months in hand,” she adds. 

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Indian Adaptations 
The actress feels there is no reason why Indian creators should not adapt globally successful shows. She highlights how she was initially worried about how “Katha Ankahee” would be received. “I wondered how our audience would connect to the main characters, who are morally ambiguous. Later, viewers loved Katha (Aditi) and Viaan (Adnan Khan). When I saw this Korean show, I found some similarities between Indian and Korean culture. I thought our audiences would identify with it. Also, there is no harm if a quality adaptation is made from a global hit,” she opines. 

On co-star Daksh Puri 
On “Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar,” Daksh Puri plays the male lead, Aarav. This is his first mainstream TV show. She tells Variety India, “He is fantastic for his first show. He will go places in his career. He has a great attitude and an eye to pick up cues. I do bully him a bit (laughs). I think we are equally nervous while doing a scene. So, our energies match.” 

She further reveals how it took the makers more than six months to zero down on Puri. “We needed someone who looked a decade younger than the leading lady, to stay true to the casting of the original,” she adds. 

On The Ensemble Cast 
The serial also stars Kunal Karan Kapoor. His character on “SYHP” is a red flag. “He sends me reels of his former show, ‘Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha’ where he was a green forest male lead (laughs). I remember watching that serial with my naani (grandmother). I would also watch ‘Saas Bina Sasural,’ starring Aishwarya Sakhuja and Ravi (Dubey).” Sakhuja plays Aarav’s elder sister and Preeti’s best friend in the serial. She quips, “I feel nervous yet happy to share screen space with them. In fact, I worked with Grusha Kapoor, who plays my mother in SYHP, way back in 2014 for one of my early projects.”