Mumbai: Prasad Athalye, who plays the role of Ramgopal in the popular show Oh Humnava: Tum Dena Saath Mera, produced by Prateek Sharma and Parth Shah’s Studio LSD, has been winning hearts with his portrayal of a devoted father. The actor recently shared his experience working alongside the talented Sriti Jha, and what goes into creating one of the most emotionally resonant father-daughter relationships on television right now.
When asked about his experience working with Sriti Jha, Prasad had nothing but praise for his co-star. “It is a very nice experience working with the talented actress Sriti Jha. She is warm, polite and very co-operative. She is easily one of the best co-artists I have worked with so far.”
That warmth, it seems, translated effortlessly onto the screen. On how the two built such a believable father-daughter bond, the actor revealed that very little effort was actually needed. “Frankly, we do not have to work very hard for that. Our age bracket helps. Further, being a father of two daughters myself helps. We therefore jelled very easily on screen in the father and daughter relationship.”
Working closely with Sriti Jha has also been a learning experience for Prasad. While he acknowledges that her talent is something uniquely her own, he notes that there were still valuable lessons to take away. “Her talent is inspirational but inimitable. Her focus and conviction of the character is also amazing. I could, however, learn a thing or two from her knowledge of the technical intricacies an actor should be aware of while working in a three, sometimes four, camera setup.”
Interestingly, the two actors rarely hold extensive pre-scene conversations, even before emotionally heavy moments. “Not really. We really don’t have to. It comes naturally and instinctively. We just do the lines and rehearse the movement dynamics just before the final take,” he shared.
Audiences have been deeply moved by the emotional support Ramgopal offers his daughter on the show, and Prasad is quick to share the credit. “It’s teamwork. I think the script, dialogues and the moments created by the talented directors Prateek Shah and Yogesh Pundir play a vital part. And of course the vibes between a father and a daughter created by us.”
Among all the moments he has shared with Sriti Jha on set, one stands out as particularly unforgettable. “In one scene she takes her father’s side and describes the hardship he has gone through for the family,” Athalye recalled. “Her performance was so convincing and dialogue delivery so full of real empathy that it touched my heart and I cried real tears in that scene without the use of glycerine.”
