Small Screen Sweethearts: Digangana Suryavanshi and Vishal Vashishtha

Mumbai: Digangana Suryavanshi and Vishal Vashishtha have won the audience over with their chemistry as Veera and Baldev in the popular soap Veera.

What makes Veera-Baldev’s chemistry a hit?
Vishal: All relationships need to start off with fights. Early in the show we shared a lot of enmity. Gradually the relationship had a lot of fights too. We then started doing things to annoy each other. I believe a good relationship must have fights and only then does it become a hit.
Digangana: Also, I think it’s the love and affection Veera-Baldev have for each other. The couple is not too mushy and what makes their relationship tick is how much they care in their own different style. The contradiction in love, nok jhok and the conversations are different. Their chemistry is sweet and spicy.

What kind of rapport do you share off-screen?
V: We share a very good rapport off-screen. Our conversations are usually intellectual; since she is a writer, we share a lot of experiences together. Sometimes I wonder how a 17-year-old girl like her knows so much, thinks and speaks so much beyond what people of her age do. There are times we spend two hours talking and don’t even realise it.
D: We are very good friends. I call him motu, he calls me moti (laughs). We hang out together. We have different rooms, but in the break we are always chilling together.

Which are your most memorable romantic scenes on the show and why.
V: There are a couple of memorable romantic scenes. I like the scenes where I push Veera against the wall, go very close to her and very slowly say the romantic lines subtly and in a flow. Even Digangana likes such scenes.
D: It was in Poland, during the Chopin festival when we were dancing together. Veera and Baldev got close, and it was awkward. I believe romantic scenes are not just about kissing or hugging. There can be a little awkwardness, shyness.

What makes you happy?
V: Firstly, the 5 am or early morning shifts that result in early packup at work. Secondly, good food makes me very happy. I am a foodie and I love North Indian food — especially the paneer dishes, dal tadka etc. which I can’t have every day.
D: If am low, a good day at work cheers me up.

Things that annoy you?
V: Whenever I take a 5-10 minute power nap in my room on the Veera sets and the production boy comes and wakes me up saying shot is ready, it really annoys me. I need my power nap and if I don’t get it, my mood goes for a toss.
D: Unnecessary negativity and fakeness.

Favourite time of the year and why?
V: December as it’s winter.
D: October for me, as it brings my birthday!

Some guilty indulgences?
V: When I have to lie to my friends owing to professional commitments. It feels bad that due to work commitments I have to lie to them. On another note, I’m also guilty of indulging in a lot of ice cream. Whenever there is free time between shots, we eat ice cream.
D: I’ve not been guilty of anything yet and I don’t want to be either.

A compliment from a fan that made you blush?
V: A particular fan tweeted saying, “You are the SRK of TV”. Reading that made me blush and I felt very nice. Till date it makes me feel good and I blush whenever I read it.
D: I think every time they (fans) compliment me, I blush. They started calling me “Dream girl”.

What qualities do you look for in your partner?
V: In the kind of industry that I work in, it is important for my partner to understand me and specifically the work culture. Since we work at odd hours and have high work commitments, a very understanding partner would help. Trust is a very important quality too.
D: I want him to be honest, about everything — be it his past or present. He should not be afraid of the truth. I want a guy who does not eat non-vegetarian food, nor should he smoke or drink.

Share with us something your fans don’t know about you.
V: It is my dream to open a restaurant in Mumbai. I would also love to continue my martial arts training and incorporate martial arts in my professional career.
D: I am a very emotional person. I don’t use glycerine while shooting. Our life is difficult — we shoot for almost 12 hours. I am a simple person in real life, not much into partying. I hate alcohol and I have never had a boyfriend till now.

Rapid Fire Round

What do you associate with the following words?

HEARTS
Vishal: Deepakshi, my girlfriend
Digangana : Romance

BLUE
V: Favourite colour
D : Water

YELLOW
V: Flowers
D : Sunshine

RED
V: Lipstick
D : Love

Dreams
V: The final factor
D : Making them true

fans
V: Support
D: Special

ICE-CREAM
V: Temptation
d: Gelato

Shoot
V: Dedication
d: Hectic, tiring and wonderful experience

SHOPPING
V: Once in a while
D : When I have nothing else to do but I haven’t shopped in 3 months

Romance
V: Depends on one’s mood
D: With my love who I haven’t found yet