Sheeba Azhar Samrat’s journey as Savitri in Zee TV’s Vasudha did not begin with an instant connection to the character. In fact, the actress admits that when she first heard about the role, she was unsure about taking it up. The idea of portraying a mother figure, especially opposite an actor who appeared close to her age, took some time for her to accept.
“When I first got the brief for Vasudha, I was actually disappointed. I didn’t want to do the show. I couldn’t imagine myself playing that role. I even prayed that I wouldn’t get the show,” Sheeba recalls.
Her perspective changed once she stepped onto the set and began understanding Savitri beyond the initial brief. As she performed scenes with Vasudha, she slowly realised that the character had an important emotional place in the story.
“When I started shooting and such scenes came, I realised there was something different about the character. Vasudha is someone who can’t share everything with everyone. There are things she can’t even tell her father, but she can share them with Savitri. That’s when I understood how important Savitri’s character is in the show,” she explains.
For Sheeba, the real challenge was not simply performing the dialogues but emotionally accepting the relationship she shared with Vasudha. The actress says it took her more than three months to genuinely see herself as the character’s mother figure.
“The most challenging part was accepting myself as Vasu’s mother figure. It was an internal fight that went on for more than three months. We looked almost the same age, so it was difficult for me to accept that relationship,” she says.
Her experience in theatre also played a role in this process. Sheeba says theatre taught her that an actor needs to feel a relationship rather than merely deliver the lines associated with it. Initially, she could perform the scenes but struggled to connect with Savitri’s maternal emotions.
“In theatre, we are taught that you shouldn’t just say something. You should feel it from within. I couldn’t feel that relationship initially. I could say the dialogue, but I wasn’t able to feel that I was her mother. When I finally started calling her my daughter from the bottom of my heart, I knew I had accepted the character,” she shares.
Working in television has also helped Sheeba understand how different the medium is from theatre. While theatre often allows actors to stay immersed in their characters for longer periods, television requires them to move from one scene and emotion to another quickly.
“In theatre, sometimes I would walk around with the character in my mind. But on television, you can’t do that all the time. You finish one scene and then you have to prepare for the next one. I have learnt to switch. I have learnt that you don’t have to carry every character with you,” she says.
Despite the initial difficulty, Sheeba feels that Savitri is not completely different from who she is in real life. According to the actress, a large part of Savitri’s personality mirrors her own. She sees both characters as responsible, hardworking, honest and deeply connected to their families and relationships.
However, Sheeba believes there is also a clear difference between the two.
“Savitri is simple and innocent, but I am not like that. I think I am bold and I like to challenge society. Savitri is happy with her small life, but Sheeba wants to move forward in life. I want to keep learning and exploring. I don’t want to stop at one place,” she says.
What began as a role Sheeba was hesitant to accept has eventually turned into an experience she values. The actress says she has grown comfortable with Savitri and is now genuinely enjoying being part of Vasudha.
“Today, I am really enjoying the show. I am very happy that I got it. I am grateful to God for giving me this show,” Sheeba concludes.
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