#KetchupTalks: Ankita Sehgal on becoming Shailaja in Jamnapaar and playing an everyday woman

"Shailja and Shanky share a strong bond, which really shines through during challenging times, reflecting how adversity reveals the strength of relationships," says Ankita Sehgal about her role in Prime Video's Jamnapaar Season 2.

Considering how overstimulated we often are, with people constantly consuming content and being presented with stories on the big screen that are a high-octane mixture that triggers every sensory nerve, finding quiet stories that talk about mellow, slow life struggles is always enticing. We get easily attracted to them and indulging in them becomes our favourite pastime. It's even more entertaining when you get to see some of our favourite faces be a part of these stories, adding their own unique touch to make them stand out. Ankita Sehgal's appearance in Prime Video's Jamnapaar feels exactly like that. 

Jamnapaar is a story that beautifully captures the journey of embracing one’s roots. A coming-of-age story, it takes us through the journey of Shantanu Bansal aka Shanky from Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi, from disowning his Jamnapaar identity to finally embracing his roots and being proud in the highly competitive backdrop of chartered accountancy life. Ankita Sehgal, who is known for her bonetitckling sketches and characters that have now become an unerasable part of digital content, joins the story as Shailaja, Shanky's sister. From a small family, that values its culture, education and is dedicated to changing their fate, Shailaja comes as a supportive figure who tries to solve the little misunderstandings between her families while dealing with her own struggles. Playing her has been an interesting experience for Ankita, and she had a lot to share about it. 

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Here's what Ankita had to share!

Tell us a bit about your character, Shailaja. Who is she in Shanky’s world, and what layers does she bring to the story?

Shailja is Shanky's sister, and they both come from a small family called the Bansal family. Their father is highly educated, while their mother is a traditional woman who is simple, dedicated, and devoted to the family. Shailja, my character, is married and serves as the backbone of the entire family, though this isn't fully realised until the last episode of season one. In season 2, she embarks on her own journey, navigating the struggles of trying to become pregnant and everything that comes with it. Shailja and Shanky share a strong bond, which really shines through during challenging times, reflecting how adversity reveals the strength of relationships. 

What aspects of Shailaja’s personality did you personally connect with the most? Was there anything about her that challenged you as an actor?

Shailja and I share some similarities in our personalities; I consider myself to be a calm person, and I think Shailja is similar in that regard. However, I also have a strong, outspoken side when it comes to women's rights. In contrast, Shailja embodies the "girl next door" stereotype, where she tends to endure her struggles quietly and continues with her life, even as she suffers. I, on the other hand, am a very calm person, but me dhukh deke, kalesh karke, I like to sit and think about what I have done. She, on the other hand, is totally different. We see how her father arranged her marriage, despite her having loved someone else in the past. Now, she is navigating challenges with her in-laws, who do not give her and her husband the space they need. 

As for my approach, I tend to confront issues directly and bring them to a conclusion. Shailja, however, seems to feel that she must endure her circumstances and persevere. I believe in standing up for myself, while she leans towards enduring challenges quietly.

The show captures East Delhi’s essence so vividly. Did shooting there help you understand the world of Jamnapaar more deeply?

I currently live in Jamnapur, having moved to Delhi several years ago after getting married. It's been about 4 to 5 years now. The Jamnapur I live in is quite different from the Jamnapur portrayed in media. This realization was insightful for me; I didn’t know that Jamuna Pari and the rest of Delhi are separated. I always thought my area was posh, as I live in a house with a view of the Yamuna River. However, through the show, I came to understand that there are significant social issues in the region. I truly admire the love that the people of Jamuna Pari have for their community. Hats off to them!

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The show explores themes of identity, ambition, and belonging. How did you prepare to portray someone navigating those emotional spaces?

Honestly, I practised method acting, which taught me how to incorporate my real life into my acting. I found myself crying a lot during certain scenes, often thinking about my three-month-old daughter who was at home and how deeply I missed her. This made me truly weep; I remember one scene where my nose was completely running from crying. I didn't intend to cry that much, but it genuinely helped me connect with the character.

Additionally, I've always believed that reading extensively allows you to understand emotions better. This skill truly benefited me, as I was able to create an entire world for my character, Shailja, in my mind. My imagination played a crucial role during this process. I often returned to my director and writer with ideas, asking if we could try something different. They were very accommodating, and we would have discussions that allowed us to improve our work together. There were no ego clashes, which made it a really enriching learning journey for me.

Is there a particular scene that was emotionally tough or personally meaningful for you to film?

Emotionally, I experienced ups and downs throughout this season. One moment that stands out to me is the first day of my shoot for Jamunapaar Season 1. I had to perform an emotional scene, which you see in episode 10, and it was quite intense. This was particularly challenging for me because I usually do comedy. Although I have a strong interest in poetry and a fascination with sadness, it sounds odd to say that, I wasn't sure how to approach the scene.

Additionally, it was tough to convey such emotion on the first day, especially since I hadn't yet formed a bond with my co-actor. The scene involved Ritvik and me, and it was part of the last episode of the season. I found this to be quite difficult. However, Prashant Sir told me that I did well, which I appreciated. He also mentioned that my face looked so happy that I seemed to be laughing even in the sad scenes. I think this feedback highlighted what was perhaps the most challenging aspect for me.

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As an actor, how has Jamnapaar contributed to your own growth or perspective on storytelling?

I think the most significant lesson I unlearned while acting in Jamunapaar was that, one, it's important to have a backstory for your character, as everyone else was doing this. Secondly, in real life, we often exaggerate our expressions a bit. Jamunapaar gave me the space to portray this in a more subdued way. You don’t have to overdo your expressions.

If you've seen my performance in Jamunapaar, you might notice that I aimed for a very natural approach. I remember a specific scene in Season 1 where I had to come from the kitchen and pick up a plate. I was reaching out with my hand from the kitchen to grab the plate. I took one, two, even three takes. Then Arun sir asked me, "What are you doing? Who reaches out like that?" I replied, "I don't know, sir; that's just how I naturally do it." So, that's how it was.

What kind of roles or stories are you drawn to next? Do you see yourself exploring more slice-of-life narratives like this one?

I often find myself feeling irritated and uneasy about my work, but my husband believes that I should not engage in it. Despite this, I am open to all experiences in my life and accept whatever comes my way. I would like to give my best effort, putting in 100% to whatever comes across my way.

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Have you watch Jamnapaar yet? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.