Mumbai: Sony SAB’s show Yeh Baatein continues to entertain audiences with its distinctive blend of humour and engaging medical cases. Actress Chhavi Pandey has joined the show as Dr Preeti Deshmukh, bringing a fresh dimension to the storyline. A talented surgeon, Dr Preeti combines confidence, warmth and emotional depth, adding a new energy to the JBM Medical College Hospital.
Deeply committed to her profession, Dr Preeti’s personal journey also brings several new layers to the narrative, making her an intriguing part of Dr Dev’s world. In a recent interaction, Chhavi Pandey opened up about joining the show, preparing to portray a surgeon, discovering similarities with her character and receiving love from viewers.
Talking about what excited her most about the role, Pandey said that the opportunity to play a doctor was the biggest attraction. Although she had briefly portrayed a doctor earlier in her career, she never had the opportunity to explore the profession in depth. According to her, playing a doctor comes with considerable responsibility because every detail needs to appear authentic—from pronouncing medical terminology correctly and understanding surgical procedures to performing with confidence.
Pandey said she enjoys characters that challenge her as an actor and described Dr Preeti as one of the most exciting roles she has taken on because the character encourages her to learn something new every day.
Preparing for a medical drama has also involved considerable attention to authenticity. Doctors are present on the sets to guide the actors through medical procedures and explain technical aspects in detail. Pandey also researches medical terminology herself and turns to her co-stars whenever she needs clarification. She said actors including Iqbal Khan and Gulki Joshi have always been supportive and willing to help.
One of the most interesting aspects of the character, Pandey said, is how different Dr Preeti is from her own personality. She described Preeti as lovable, slightly clumsy, outspoken, extroverted and someone who expresses her feelings openly. In contrast, Pandey considers herself an introvert who takes time to open up and is highly organised.
However, she found one important similarity between them—their dedication to their work. Just as Dr Preeti remains completely focused while treating her patients, Pandey said she gives herself completely to acting when she is performing. She considers this sincerity towards their respective professions the quality that connects her most strongly with the character.
Pandey also identified Dr Preeti’s compassion as another trait she personally relates to. She described the character as caring and emotional, someone who takes responsibility and does not want others to suffer because of her actions. Pandey said she too believes in compassion towards people, animals and those around her, adding that kindness is a quality genuinely shared by both of them.
Speaking about working with Iqbal Khan, Gulki Joshi and the rest of the cast, Pandey described the experience as wonderful. Having worked with Khan previously, she said she felt comfortable from the moment she joined the show. Although this is her first project with Joshi, she already knew her. Pandey said working alongside talented performers naturally helps actors improve because acting is ultimately a team effort.
She also praised the positive atmosphere on the sets and credited the director for creating an environment where even challenging scenes become enjoyable to perform.
Joining an already popular show comes with its own responsibility, but Pandey said the warmth from viewers has made her feel extremely grateful. She credited the writers for creating Dr Preeti in a way that allows audiences to connect with her.
Recalling one viewer’s message that particularly touched her, Pandey said the viewer had described an emotional scene involving Dr Preeti as giving a voice to people who are often judged or rejected for being different. For Pandey, such a response represented the ultimate reward for an actor.
As Dr Preeti’s journey progresses, viewers can expect to discover more facets of her personality. Having entered the hospital with warmth, positivity and dedication, the character is set to bring both professional and emotional dimensions to the story.
