Bringing life to a character isn’t just about delivering dialogues or following a script; it’s about adding a personal touch that makes the role unforgettable. Veteran actor Abha Parmar, who portrays the wise and compassionate Dadi in Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya on Sun Neo, believes in this philosophy wholeheartedly.
Speaking about why and how she improvises her character Abha Parmar shared, “In every role I play, I try to improvise a little by adding something personal to my character so that the audience can connect with it on a personal level. Sometimes, I add small quirks or mannerisms. The reason I am able to improvise like this is that I observe a lot in my daily life—wherever I go and whatever happens around me. Based on these observations, I bring elements from real life into my character, which I feel is very important for an actor. Observing people and situations helps me improvise and gives a unique touch to the character, making it stand out.”
Abha’s improvisations have not only shaped her characters but also made many of her dialogues unforgettable to which she added, “In many of my shows, I have added certain dialogues on my own, and they became hits. Even today, people remember those lines, and they create memes and reels based on them. In my current Sun Neo’s show Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya, I try to add as much as I can to make the character better. Sometimes, the director doesn’t agree, but I somehow convince them.”
What’s even more fascinating is how deeply invested she is in the theme of the show, “Chhathi Maiyya Ki bitiya is based on mythological theme, so it includes a lot of rituals and prayers. When the show started, I had asked one of my relatives to share Chhathi Maiyya related aartis and jagrata bhajans, thinking they might be useful at some point. So this process of observation and improvisation keeps going for me.”
With her dedication and creative instincts, Abha Parmar continues to breathe life into the character of Dadi, Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya follows the journey of Vaishnavi, an orphan who finds solace and strength in her unwavering faith in Chhathi Maiyya (portrayed by Sneha Wagh), who serves as a mother figure in her life. The show features a talented cast, including Sara Khan, Jaya Bhattacharya, Brinda Dahal, and Ashish Dixit.